Rituparna Sengupta shares her thoughts on the veteran filmmaker, who passed away on December 30
As told to Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; January 1, 2019)

I consider myself quite unfortunate that I never got a chance to work with Mrinal da. It’s a disappointment that will remain with me for as long as I live. I met him a couple of times. Once I presented a film to him called Icche, which had a lot of newcomers. He was very happy with what we had tried to do. Later on, we met at film gatherings and he would often bless me with kind words and lots of praises for my films. He had loved Tohon, a film that fetched me the National Award. He loved the movie so much so that he told me, ‘I think you have something very special in you. You are very talented and meticulous. Keep that going.’ I was over the moon. A few years later, his health began to deteriorate. He hadn’t been keeping well lately. His social appearances dropped in numbers, but we would all make time to wish him on his birthday. I remember hosting him at home once on his birthday. We also spent some time with special kids that day.

Over the years, his cinema has influenced me in a big way. His contribution to world cinema is remarkable. Khandhar, Neel Akasher Neeche, Mrigaya — his films were so nuanced. His belief in his stories was so strong that people, who watched his films, left the cinema hall feeling exactly what he felt for his story and its characters. His demise marks the end of an era in world cinema. Out of 26 films, 16 won National Awards. Who can ever match Mrinal Sen’s record? His death is an irreparable loss to us. Of course, he lived a full and illustrious life, which will continue to inspire art and artistes alike.