Sen had the guts to speak against state oppression'

Kolkata: Former Naxal leaders on Sunday remembered film maker Mrinal Sen as a director who had the courage to speak the truth against state oppression and portray the Naxalite movement through his films.

“He had the guts to speak the truth against state oppression. He was never afraid to speak the truth. His films portrayed the real picture of society and the political undercurrents,” former Naxal leader, Ajijul Haque, said.

“Later on when I met him on several occasions, I had spoken to him about his films,” he added.

Another former Naxal leader and noted writer Santosh Rana told PTI: “His films had not only portrayed the tumultuous time of the 1970s but also helped in spreading the message against poverty, unemployment and rural distress.”

Mr Sen had brilliantly depicted the unrest among the masses and their aspirations that were not getting fulfilled in a nation, that had secured independence just a few decades back in 1947, he said further.

Ashim Chatterjee, a former Naxalite, too echoed the views of Mr Rana and Mr Haque.

Sen’s trilogy— “Interview”, “Calcutta 71” and “Padatik”— is considered to be a masterpiece for depicting the social and political upheaval in the Kolkata of the 1970s when the Naxalite movement was spreading in West Bengal.

Mr Sen’s overtly political films had earned him the reputation as a Left-leaning artist. This was also the time of large-scale political unrest throughout the country, particularly in and around the then Calcutta.

Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who shared a very cordial relationship with Mr Sen, on Sunday said the legendary film-maker was in the know of things about the present situation in the country despite his illness.

"Despite his physical ailments, Mr Sen was very much conscious about the present situation in the country and had a sense of discomfort for that. This came out from his conversations with me in recent times," Mr Bhattacharjee said in a statement.

Left Front chairman and senior CPI (M) leader Biman Bose also condoled the death of Sen. "He was a Marxist, a true human being and friend of the common people," Mr Bose said.