Bengali actress Sreela Majumder passes away

Binodon Desk:

Bengali actress Sreela Majumder, known for her impressive performances in Mrinal Sen’s films like “Parashuram,” “Akaaler Sandhane,” and “Ek Din Pratidin,” died at her home in Kolkata on Saturday after losing the battle against cancer.

The 65-year-old actress had been battling cancer for the past three years. She is survived by her husband SNM Abdi, a well-known journalist, and a son.

It was Mrinal Sen who gave Sreela Majumder her first break in cinema when she was 16 as he chose her in “Parashuram” in 1980.

It is said that Mrinal Sen’s wife Geeta Sen had suggested roping in Sreela for the role. Geeta had known Sreela since their days in All India Radio working for radio plays.

There was no looking back for Sreela since “Parashuram.” She went on to play key roles in a number of films of not only Mrinal Sen like “Ekdin Pratin,” arguably the director’s best work, “Akaler Sandhane,” “Kharij,” and Hindi film “Khandahar” but also Shyam Benegal’s “Mandi,” “Aarohan,” Utpalendu Chakrbarty’s “Chokh,” and Prakash Jha’s “Damul.”

Sreela has shared screen space with some of the big names of Hindi cinema Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, and Om Puri in “Mandi,” and Akaaler Sandhane.”

Her last film to hit the theatres last year was named “Palan” after a character in Mrinal Sen’s “Khariji” which also stars Mamata Shankar and Anjan Dutt.

Palan, directed by Kaushik Ganguly as a tribute to Sen, also features Anjan Dutt and Mamata Shankar among others. In a career spanning four decades, Sreela appeared in more than 43 movies.

Sreela has also given voice-over to Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai in Rituporno Ghosh’s Bengali film “Chokher Bali.” Her forthcoming films are “Amaar Labangalata,” and “Anneshwan.”

Condoling the demise of Sreela, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a Facebook post, “Saddened by the news of the demise of film actress Sreela Majumder. Sreela was a noted and powerful actress who played outstanding roles in several significant Indian films. It is a big loss for Bengal film industry and we shall miss her stellar presence. My condolences to her family.”