Reference websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aparna_Sen
http://www.webindia123.com/personal/film/aparna.htm
Aparna Sen, a famous Bengali actress and film director, was born on October 25, 1945 in Kolkata. Her father, Chidananda Dasgupta, was a famous film maker and critic. Her mother, Supriya Dasgupta, is the cousin of a famous poet Jibanananda Das. Aparna Sen complete her schooling from Modern High School in Kolkata.
At the tender age of 16, Aparna had the opportunity to work with legendary film director Satyajit Ray. She acted in Teen Kanya in 1961. After completing her college studies, Aparna returned to acting and acted in a Baksa Badal and Akash Kusum. These two films did not do too well. Aparna Sen had her first commercial hit with Aparajito.
From 1965 till the end of the 70s, Aparna acted in Bengali films. However, she did not restrict herself only that language. She acted in a number of Hindi films. In 1969, she acted in Merchant Ivory Productions for the English film The Guru. She went on to act in two other Merchant Ivory films, Bombay Talkie in 1970 and Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie’s Picture in 1978.
Aparna started directing films in 1981 with the English language film 36 Chowringhee Lane for which she wrote the screenplay too. This film won Aparna a lot of acclaim and she won the Best Director Award at the Indian National Film Festival. The movie also won the Golden Eagle award at the Manila International Film Festival.
With this success behind her, Aparna went on to successfully direct Paroma in 1984, Sati in 1989 and Yugant in 1995. During this period, Aparna took time out to act in Unishe April, a Rituparno Ghosh film, in 1994.
In 1999, Aparna directed the film Paromitar Ek Din which won her critical acclaim for her directorial skills. She went on to direct her daughter, Konkana Sen Sharma, and Rahul Bose in the 2002 love story Mr and Mrs Iyer. This film won Aparna a National Film Award for Best Director and her daughter won the Best Actress Award. The film was an international success winning awards in Locarno, Hawaii and Manila Film Festivals. Aparna went on to direct 15 Park Avenue with her daughter and other famous actors and actress like Shabana Azmi, Waheeda Rehman and Rahul Bose.
In 1986 Aparna Sen won the Padma Shri for her contribution to Indian cinema. Aparna Sen has won number of lifetime achievement awards and has been on the jury panel in several international film festival.
Aparna Sen is currently married to Kalyan Ray, a writer and an English professor who lives in the United States. She has two daughters from previous marriages. She has two grandchildren. She used to be an editor of a Bengali women’s magazine from 1986 to 2005 |
