Eminent litterateur and social activist Mahasweta Devi passed away at the age of 90 at a Kolkata hospital on Thursday afternoon. She was admitted to a hospital on June 22 with septicemia and urinary infection. The Magsaysay awardee is survived by her daughter-in-law and grandchild; her son passed away two years ago.

“It's a black day for us. The greatest writer Mahashweta Devi expired today around 3.15pm. We have grown up reading her books. Rest in peace,“ Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee posted on Twitter. Mahesh Bhatt shared, “The woman who walked with the broken and refused to sit with the 'great' writer Mahasweta Devi passes away in Kolkata. What a life!“, while filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted: “Sad to hear about Padma Vibhushan Mahasweta Devi. Her immense contribution to the world of literature will always be remembered... RIP.“ Actor Rahul Bose said the iconic writer's death is a “tremendous loss“.

Several of Mahasweta Devi's novels were turned into films over the years, including the award-winning Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (below) and Rudaali.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has blocked the release of National Award-winner Joshy Joseph's five-minute experimental film on writer Mahasweta Devi for mis-pronouncing her name in his Malayalam accent.

Joseph addresses the writer by her name in English while deliberating on the dynamics of fiction and non-fiction in 'Serendipity Cinema', which is part of a larger film in the making.

The film's certificate has been withheld even as Mahasweta has no objection with the way Joseph has pronounced her name. “How silly to make it an issue. The manner in which my name Mahasweta Devi is pronounced in the film 'Serendipity Cinema' is absolutely alright,'' said the writer, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Joseph, too, has refused to have the correct pronunciation dubbed. “I stand by the pronunciation of the proper noun Mahasweta Devi as it is in this copy which is approved by the writer herself and awarded by director general of Films Division, government of India,“ he wrote in a letter to CBFC regional officer Dibyendu Das.

'Serendipity Cinema' won the first prize at the Films Division experimental films competition last year, beating entries from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi.

Filmmakers are livid over CBFC's objection. “The whole of Bengal calls former Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan as 'Ochhutanondon','' said filmmaker Subhendu Chatterjee. He said the film is about a conversation in which Joseph speaks with Malayali and Mahesweta Devi with Bengali accent.

Das refused to comment, saying comments of CBFC members are classified information. “We have sent a response to the filmmaker.“