Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Raja Sen.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Raja Sen
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2024) |
Raja Sen (born 10 November 1955) is an Indian film and television director and the winner of three National Film Awards from Kolkata, West Bengal, India.[1] He is the father of Subhasree Sen and Sreyoshi Sen.
Key Information
Career
[edit]Raja Sen first received recognition with Subarnalata (1997), a teleserial, he followed it up with Adarsha Hindu Hotel, Arogyo Niketan, few episodes of Desh Amaar Desh are some of the notables of the Bengali television arena.
He has also documented the real life paradigm of the living legends of Bengal's World of Art & Culture, namely, Suchitra Mitra, Tapan Sinha, Sombhu Mitra, Subhas Mukhopadhyay.
Personal life
[edit]Raja Sen is married to Papiya Sen, has two daughters, Subhasree Sen and Sreyoshi Sen and two granddaughters Mishka and Juana.
Filmography
[edit]Feature film
[edit]- Damu (1996) - Cast: Raghuvir Yadav, Satya Banerjee, Monoj Mitra, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Rimi Sen (Child Artist).
- Atmiyo Swajan (1999) - Cast: Soumitra Chatterjee, Supriya Devi, Dipankar De, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Rituparna Sengupta, Shakuntala Barua, Alok Mukherjee, Ashok Mitra, Asit Mukherjee, Chaitali Ghoshal, June Malia, Papiya Sen, Piyush Ganguly, Pradip Chakraborty, Rimi Sen (Child Artist), Tridib Ghosh.
- Chakrabyuhya (2000) - Indrajeet, Chiranjeet, Anjan Srivastava, Rituparna Sen Gupta, Indrani Haldar, Chitra Sen, June Maliya.
- Desh (2002) - Cast: Jaya Bhaduri, Abhishek Bachchan, Sabyasachi Chakravarthy, Subhendu Chatterjee, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Nayana Das, Monu Mukherjee, Kaushik Sen, Rajesh Sharma, Dulal Lahiri.
- Debipaksha (2004) - Cast: Soumitra Chatterjee, Rituparna Sengupta, Satabdi Roy, Koel Mullick.
- Viswa O Arjun (2006) - Cast Mayukh Mukherjee, Ashok Mukherjee, Indarni Pal, Anindya Bhaduri, Ipshita Nandi
- Krishnakanter Will (2007) - Cast: Jeet, Soumitra Chatterjee, Swastika Mukherjee.
- Tinmurti (2009) - Cast: Ranjit Mullick, Dipankar Dey, Manoj Mitra, Paoli Dam.
- Laboratory (2010) - Cast: Raveena Tandon (debut in the Bengali film industry), Arpita Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Ranjit Mullick.
- Moubone Aaj (2011) - Cast: Ranjit Mullick, Manoj Mitra, Dipankar Dey, Rahul, Priyanka and Rachana Banerjee.
- Colonel (2012) - Cast: Chiranjit, Sabyasachi, Kharaj, Saheb, Shakar, Sudip, and Tapas Paul.
- Maya Mridanga (2016) -Cast: Debshankar Haldar, Rituparna Sengupta, Paoli Dam, Gautam Haldar
Documentaries
[edit]- Filmmaker for Freedom (a film on Tapan Sinha)
- Subhas Mukhopadhyay
- Suchitra Mitra
- Sambhu Mitra - 3 hours documentation by EZCC
- Jyotirmoyee Devi
- Alkaap - a dying folk culture
- Itihasher Kolkata (5 episodes on the heritage of Kolkata)
- Samaresh Basu (ICIL)
- Rosogolla - brand ambassador of Bengal (EZCC)
- The Greatest Bengali of The Millennium - (a film on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, BBC announced the founding father of Bangladesh as the Greatest Bengali of all time voted by Bengalis worldwide.)
TV serials
[edit]- Kolkata Kolkata
- Adarsha Hindu Hotel
- Subarnalata
- Samparka
- Arogya Niket
- Anirban
- Anjuman
- Streeash Charitram
- Tarasankarer Chhoto Galpo
Awards
[edit]- 1993 - Documentary Suchitra Mitra - National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film
- 1997 - Debut feature film 'Damu' - National Film Award for Best Children's Film[2]
- 1997 - Best Film - Shiromoni Award
- 1997 - Best Audinence Juvenile Award in Dhaka International Film Festival
- 1999 - Atmiyo Swajan - National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare
- 1999 - Cairo International Film Festival
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Raja Sen Biography and Filmography Calcuttaweb.com
- Raja Sen at IMDb
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Raja Sen
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Biography
Early life and education
Raja Sen was born on November 10, 1955, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.[7] He grew up in Bengal, immersed in the region's vibrant artistic and cultural environment, which profoundly influenced his creative development.[1] From an early age, Sen was drawn to storytelling, inspired by Bengal's literary traditions and the works of luminaries such as Suchitra Mitra and Tapan Sinha, fostering his passion for cinema and humanist narratives.[1] Details regarding his formal education remain limited in public records, though he later pursued professional involvement in film technology as a lecturer at the Regional Institute of Printing Technology in Jadavpur, Kolkata.[1]Personal life
Raja Sen is married to Papiya Sen.[1] The couple has two daughters.[1] They reside in South Kolkata, where Sen continues to lead a family-centered life alongside his filmmaking career.[8]Career
Television directing
Raja Sen entered the realm of Bengali television directing with his debut serial Subarnalata (produced in 1988 and telecast in 1997), an adaptation of Ashapurna Devi's novel that explored themes of women's empowerment and societal constraints in early 20th-century Bengal.[1][5] The series garnered early recognition for its sensitive portrayal of female resilience, earning Sen the Best TV Production award in 1988 and establishing his reputation for adapting literary works to the small screen.[5] Building on this success, Sen directed Adarsha Hindu Hotel in the 1990s, an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novel depicting the everyday struggles and humanism in a modest boarding house, which won him the Best TV Direction award in 1992.[1][5] He followed with Arogyo Niketan, another Bibhutibhushan adaptation focusing on family dynamics and health in colonial Bengal, and contributed episodes to Desh Amaar Desh, all emphasizing the translation of classic Bengali literature into episodic television formats that resonated with middle-class audiences.[1] Sen's oeuvre expanded to include serials such as Kolkata Kolkata, Samparka, Anirban, Anjuman, Streeash Charitram, and Tarasankarer Chhoto Galpo (an adaptation of Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay's short stories), which highlighted social realism through narratives of urban life, interpersonal relationships, and cultural traditions in Bengal.[1] These works often drew from Bengali literary heritage, portraying the triumphs of ordinary individuals amid societal conflicts and promoting a deeper appreciation of regional identity.[1] During the 1980s and 1990s, Sen's productions were closely tied to collaborations with Doordarshan, India's state-run broadcaster, which monopolized television until the mid-1990s and presented challenges including stringent government oversight, limited funding, rudimentary production technology, and political influences on content approval.[9] Despite these constraints, Sen navigated the medium's episodic structure to deliver culturally rooted stories, often produced under tight schedules and with minimal resources compared to later private broadcasting eras. Through his television work, Sen significantly influenced Bengali tele-drama by bringing literary adaptations and social themes to a broader audience via Doordarshan, fostering cultural discourse and making complex narratives accessible in living rooms across West Bengal and beyond.[1] His serials topped popularity charts, cementing his status as a household name and elevating the artistic standards of regional television during a formative period.[1]Feature film directing
Raja Sen transitioned from acclaimed television serials to feature film directing with his debut, Damu (1996), a children's film centered on an orphan's innate kindness and resilience amid societal teasing, which earned the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 1997.[1] This shift marked his entry into independent Bengali cinema, where he explored deeper cinematic narratives unbound by serialized formats, drawing on his experience adapting literary works for TV.[10] Sen's filmography evolved to emphasize social issues, family dynamics, and cultural heritage in rural Bengal settings, as seen in Atmiyo Swajan (1998), which portrays an elderly patriarch's ethical struggles against his children's urban moral decay and won the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare in 1999.[3] Films like Desh (2002) addressed freedom fighters' legacies and NGO efforts in community upliftment, while Debipaksha (2004) contrasted religious traditions within family bonds during Durga Puja rituals.[10] Later works, including Krishnakanter Will (2007), an adaptation of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel probing man-woman relationships and redemption, and Maya Mridanga (2016), which celebrates folk drama artists in a Bengal village, reinforced his humanist lens on personal triumphs over societal conflicts.[11][12] Additional titles such as Tin Murti (2009), depicting retired friends finding purpose, Laboratory (2010), on a scientist's intercultural marriage, and Khacha (2013), highlighting single women's harassment and survival, further illustrated his commitment to everyday Bengali experiences and literary influences.[13][14][15] Throughout the 1990s and 2010s, Sen navigated production challenges typical of independent Bengali cinema, including acute funding shortages, lack of governmental support for low-budget socially themed projects, and limited distribution amid a financial crisis that reduced annual film outputs.[16][17] These hurdles often constrained resources for location shoots in rural areas and literary adaptations, yet Sen's films garnered critical acclaim for their authentic depiction of Bengal's cultural nuances and family intricacies, with Atmiyo Swajan praised as a poignant tribute to the enduring human spirit in aging parents.[18]Documentary work
Raja Sen's documentary work centers on preserving Bengali cultural heritage, profiling iconic figures in art, literature, and traditions while addressing environmental concerns. His films emphasize factual storytelling to capture the essence of Bengal's evolving identity amid modernization, often commissioned by institutions like Doordarshan and the Sahitya Akademi.[19][2] Sen began his documentary career with the five-episode series Itihaaser Kolkata in 1990, which explored the historical facets of the city, marking his initial foray into archival-style filmmaking for Doordarshan. This was followed by Sri Ramkrishna in 1991, a profile of the revered spiritual leader, and the environmental short Sound Pollution the same year, produced for the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. In 2002, he directed Sundarban, highlighting the ecological significance of the Bengal delta region. These early efforts established Sen's commitment to documenting both tangible heritage and pressing contemporary issues.[19][2] A significant portion of Sen's oeuvre consists of intimate profiles of Bengal's cultural luminaries, aimed at immortalizing their legacies. His 1992 film Suchitra Mitra, shot on 35mm, chronicled the life of the Rabindra Sangeet exponent and earned the National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film. This was succeeded by Film Maker for Freedom (1994), a 35mm tribute to director Tapan Sinha's contributions to cinema and social themes; Sombhu Mitra (1997), focusing on the theatre doyen; and Subhas Mukhopadhyay (2000), commissioned by the Sahitya Akademi to honor the poet's literary impact. Later profiles included Aalkaap (2005), which examined the traditional folk opera form and won the Bengal Film Journalists' Association (BFJA) Best Director award, and Samaresh Basu (2009), profiling the prolific novelist for the Central Institute of Indian Languages.[19][2][3][5] Sen's approach prioritizes high-fidelity capture of living subjects to ensure archival longevity, frequently employing 35mm film for its superior quality in preserving visual and auditory details of performances and interviews. Through these works, he has contributed substantially to safeguarding Bengal's artistic and literary traditions, providing future generations with authentic records of icons whose influences risk dilution in the face of rapid societal changes.[19][1][2]Filmography
Feature films
Damu (1996)Damu tells the story of an orphan boy raised by a retired station master in rural Bengal, who embarks on a determined journey to fulfill a promise to provide an elephant ride for his granddaughter, leading him through various adventures including encounters with a circus, all while showcasing themes of kindness and innocence. The film features notable cast members including Raghuvir Yadav as Damu, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Manoj Mitra, Tarun Kumar, and Rimi Sen. It was released in 1996 and runs for approximately 90 minutes. Damu won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.[20][21] Atmiyo Swajan (1998)
In Atmiyo Swajan, an elderly man with rigid moral principles contemplates suicide amid his family's moral decay—his sons adopting urban vices, one daughter married to a corrupt official, and another in a troubled union—but a family crisis ultimately reunites them, emphasizing resilience and the transient nature of hardships. Key cast includes Soumitra Chatterjee in the lead, alongside Supriya Devi, Dipankar Dey, Rituparna Sengupta, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Rimi Sen, and Papiya Sen. Released in 1998 with a runtime of about 120 minutes, the film received the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare.[22][21] Chakrabyuha (2000)
Chakrabyuha follows Tapan, a compassionate young boxer from a poor background who works for a shady promoter named Bhavani, only to quit upon uncovering exploitation, leading to a dangerous confrontation that tests his integrity and survival. The cast highlights Indrajeet as Tapan, Chiranjeet, Anjan Srivastava, Rituparna Sengupta, Indrani Halder, and Chitra Sen. It premiered in 2000 and has a runtime of roughly 130 minutes.[23] Desh (2002)
Desh portrays the efforts of Suprava Choudhury, an ex-freedom fighter running the NGO Aastha in North Bengal, as she battles local corruption involving a kidnapping case investigated by journalist Sanjay Nandi, resulting in tragedy but reinforcing her commitment to social justice. Notable actors include Jaya Bachchan as Suprava, Abhishek Bachchan, Shubhendu Chatterjee, Koushik Sen, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Rimi Sen. The film was released in 2002, with a runtime of approximately 140 minutes.[24] Debipaksha (2004)
Debipaksha centers on a devout priest's family disrupted when his daughter Haimanti is assaulted during Durga Puja festivities; years later, she returns as an actress to exact revenge on her attacker during the festival's climax, exploring themes of vengeance and redemption. The ensemble features Soumitra Chatterjee, Sandhya Roy, Rituparna Sengupta, Satabdi Roy, and Koyel Mallick, with a guest appearance by Dipankar Dey. Released in 2004, it runs for about 135 minutes and earned the International Indo-Bangladesh Kala Music Award for Best Feature Film.[25][21] Krishnakanter Will (2007)
Adapted from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, Krishnakanter Will delves into a wealthy man's infatuation with another woman that shatters his harmonious marriage, prompting his withdrawal into spiritual pursuits for atonement. Leading roles are played by Soumitra Chatterjee as Krishnakanta, Swastika Mukherjee as Rohini, Monali Thakur as Bhramar, and Jeete as Gobindalal. The film premiered in 2007 with a runtime of 145 minutes.[26] Tin Murti (2009)
Tin Murti depicts three septuagenarian retirees—Nabin, Nagen, and Naren—who revitalize their lives by taking over a struggling tea shop owned by a young unemployed graduate, blending humor and pathos to celebrate post-retirement purpose and friendship. The cast includes Ranjit Mullick, Sabitri Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey, Paoli Dam, and Manoj Mitra. Released in 2009, it has a runtime of around 125 minutes.[27] Laboratory (2010)
Laboratory, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's story, follows scientist Nanda Kishore who builds a research lab with his savings and marries a simple village woman, Sohini; after his death, she safeguards his legacy by rejecting an unsuitable successor for the lab despite family pressures. Key performers are Ravina Tandon, Ranjit Mullick, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Arpita Chatterjee. The film was released in 2010 with a runtime of approximately 110 minutes.[28] Moubane Aaj (2011)
Moubane Aaj is a light-hearted romantic comedy set in the fictional town of Mouboni, where a kind-hearted widower Satish Roy navigates his introverted son Mainak's love life and community challenges, including forming a cooperative and preventing a suicide, culminating in familial harmony. The cast features Ranjit Mullick as Satish, Rachana Banerjee, Rahul Bose, Priyanka Sarkar, Manoj Mitra, and Dipankar Dey. It premiered in 2011 and runs for about 130 minutes.[29] Cornel (2012)
Cornel revolves around retired Colonel Niladri Sarkar, a naturopath who teams up with a crime reporter and a detective to solve the disappearance of an actress and missing funds in a web of murder and blackmail involving film industry figures. Notable cast members include Chiranjit Chakraborty as the Colonel, Tapas Pal, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, and Saheb Chatterjee. Released in 2012, the film has a runtime of roughly 120 minutes.[30] Khacha (2013)
Khacha examines the vulnerabilities of single women through the stories of a divorced executive Samita and an orphaned Parul, who face societal harassment but find support and empowerment via a journalist ally, underscoring themes of solidarity and endurance. The lead roles are portrayed by Rituparna Sengupta as Samita, Parno Mittra as Parul, Ritwik Chakraborty, and Firdous Ahmed. It was released in 2013 with a runtime of approximately 125 minutes.[31] Maya Mridanga (2016)
Maya Mridanga chronicles the life of folk artist Jhaksu Ustad who mentors a young performer Shanti in traditional jatra theater, only for personal betrayals including his wife's seduction to fracture their bond, leading to redemption through communal art revival. The film stars Debshankar Haldar as Jhaksu, Paoli Dam, Rituparna Sengupta, Goutam Halder, and Manoj Mitra. Premiered in 2016, it runs for about 140 minutes and won the Best Director (Jury) Award at the 6th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival.[32][21] Manabpremi Mahapurush (2016)
Manabpremi Mahapurush is a biographical drama on Swami Pranabananda, the 19th-20th century spiritual leader and founder of Bharat Seveshram Sangha, highlighting his humanitarian efforts during crises like famines and epidemics, and his revered status among figures such as Subhas Chandra Bose. Arjun Chakrabarty plays the lead, supported by Ranjit Mullick, Biplab Chatterjee, Ayan Kumar Dutta, and Saumalya Mitra. Released in 2016 with a runtime of around 135 minutes.[33] Bhalobasar Galpo (2019)
Bhalobasar Galpo explores how a widowed woman maintains her dignity and navigates life's challenges in a changing society. The cast includes Saswata Chatterjee, Kaushik Banerjee, Debdut Ghosh, and Dulal Lahiri. Released in 2019 with a runtime of approximately 120 minutes.[34] As of 2025, no additional feature films beyond 2019 have been identified.[35]
Documentaries
Raja Sen's documentary career commenced in 1989 with Rosogolla, a short film commissioned by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) that highlights the traditional Bengali sweet as a cultural emblem of Bengal.[19] In 1990, he produced Itihaaser Kolkata, a five-episode series for Doordarshan examining the historical and cultural facets of Kolkata.[2] The year 1991 saw two releases: Sri Ramkrishna O Shyampukur, focusing on the life and spiritual legacy of the 19th-century mystic Sri Ramakrishna during his time at Shyampukur, and Sound Pollution, an awareness film commissioned by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board addressing urban noise issues.[19][5] In 1992, Sen directed Suchitra Mitra in 35mm format, a profile of the renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and founder of the group theatre movement in Bengal, which earned the National Film Award for Best Film on Arts and Culture.[19][2] His 1994 works included Film Maker for Freedom, a 35mm documentary on veteran filmmaker Tapan Sinha's contributions to Indian cinema, recipient of the Bengal Film Journalists' Association (BFJA) Award for Best Documentary in 1996, and A Home Away from Home, also in 35mm, depicting the operations of a cancer treatment and welfare center.[19][5] In 1996, Sen directed Jyotirmoyee Devi, a documentary on the life and works of the Bengali author Jyotirmoyee Devi.[2] The 1997 documentary Sombhu Mitra, produced for EZCC in 35mm, profiles the pioneering Bengali theatre director and actor as a doyen of Indian theatre, building on an earlier 1996 Doordarshan piece Glimpses of a Genius on the same subject.[19] In 1998, Anthropological Society of India chronicled the history and research activities of the institution founded in 1873.[19] Sen's 2000 film Subhas Mukhopadhyay, commissioned by Sahitya Akademi, offers a biographical portrait of the influential Bengali poet and playwright.[19] This was followed in 2002 by Sundarban, exploring the unique ecology, biodiversity, and human life in the UNESCO World Heritage mangrove forest.[19] In 2005, Aalkaap documented the traditional Bengali folk opera form from Murshidabad, its performance traditions and cultural significance, earning the BFJA Best Documentary Award.[19][2] Sen's 2009 film Samaresh Basu, commissioned by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), traces the life and prolific literary output of the versatile Bengali author known for his pen name Kalkut.[19][5] In 2023, Sen directed The Greatest Bengali of the Millennium (Sohoshrabder Sera Bangali), a documentary on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, selected as the greatest Bengali in a BBC survey.[36] No further documentaries by Sen have been documented as of November 2025.[19]Television serials
Raja Sen's television career primarily involved directing Bengali serials for Doordarshan, often adapting literary works by prominent authors such as Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay and Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay. His serials typically ran for 4 to 52 episodes, focusing on social and familial themes, and were commissioned or sponsored productions in the 1980s and 1990s. Subarnalata earned him early recognition, including the Best TV Production award in 1988.[5] The following table lists his major directed television serials in approximate chronological order, including episode counts where known, source material, select lead actors, and broadcast details.| Serial Title | Year | Episodes | Source Material | Lead Actors | Broadcast Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Kolkata | 1986 | 2 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Samparka | 1986 | 4 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Subarnalata | 1997 | 18 | Novel by Ashapurna Devi | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Desh Amaar Desh | 1988 | 4 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Anirban | 1988 | 4 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Bankim Sahitye Naari | 1989 | 4 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Adarsha Hindu Hotel | 1989 | 13 | Novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay | Manoj Mitra (as Hajari Thakur) | Doordarshan |
| Tarasankarer Chhoto Galpo | 1991 | 13 | Short stories by Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Arogyo Niketan | 1993 | 13 | Novel by Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Jal Pade Pata Nade | 1994 | 13 | Sponsored | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Streeash Charitram | 1994 | 4 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Anjuman | 1996 | 13 | Original (Hindi) | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Jibaner Aaynay | 1998 | 4 | Sponsored | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Chirantan | 1999 | 22 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Pallisamaj | 2000 | 8 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |
| Kolkata Kolkata (extension/sequel) | 1997 | 52 | Original | Not specified | Doordarshan |