Sighting Suchitra Sen

I was a boy when I first watched the Uttam-Suchitra starrer, ‘Harano Sur’, in an Old Dhaka cinema hall.

Needless to say, soon I became a diehard fan of the pair and watched most of their movies by the 1980s.

Since boyhood, I nurtured a desire in my heart - to could see them once up close.

I did not get to meet Uttam Kumar, but I had the opportunity to meet Suchitra Sen, and not just once. I met her at a time when she had quit acting and hardly met anyone of the film industry.

It was 1989. I went to Kolkata to sign a remake version of my film, ‘Sotyomithya’.

Bijoy Khemka, the director of the film, came to know about my boyhood dream of meeting Suchitra Sen. He said it was impossible.

While shooting the film, I asked actress Sandhya Roy to do me a favour and let me see Suchitra Sen for once. She also said it was ‘impossible’.

I left no stone unturned.
I requested Supriya Devi, Ranjit Mallick, and others. But, none could help me.

Seeing my desperation, one of my old friends, Barin Banerjee, told me, “Look, you are an actor yourself. Why don’t you go to Mrs Sen’s house on your own?”
On the next day, Barin drove me to her house at Ballygunge Circular Road.

I quietly went to the gate of Suchitra Sen and sent in my business card through the guard with the note, “I’m from Bangladesh. Seeking a visit”.
I waited in front of the gate. The guard returned after half an hour or so and told me to phone her next morning at 10:00am.

I spent the night sleeplessly and then telephoned her.

Suchitra: Are you Alamgir?

Alamgir: Yes.

Suchitra: Your didi (sister) speaking.

Alamgir: I want to meet you.

Suchitra: I’m busy. Will meet you next time you come to Kolkata.

Alamgir: Didi, I can stay as long as you want. But I want to see you.

Suchitra: Today is 31 December. Will you party tonight?

Alamgir: Yes, I will.

Suchitra: Before you go to the party, come over at 6:00pm. I’ll give you 15 minutes in terms of three conditions. 1. You cannot bring anyone else. 2. Cameras are not allowed. 3. You can’t ask me any personal questions.

I promised her that I would maintain all the conditions.

On 31 December, I reached Suchitra Sen’s house at 5:55pm. It was a big zemindar house. The security guard accompanied me to the first floor. He took me to a long veranda where I awaited Suchitra Sen’s arrival.

I was excited. After a while, I heard someone coming. She was wearing a green sari. I stood up and bent to touch her feet in a mark of respect.

Suchitra: Why did you touch my feet?

Alamgir: I can’t resist  receiving blessings from a great artiste like you.

Suchitra: You are an artiste. So am I. I should take your blessings too as all artistes are equal.

Alamgir: I touched your feet as a younger brother, too.

Suchitra: It’s fine, then.

I have never seen such a woman in my life. She spoke to me in the same manner that she spoke in films. And her smile? It was a different kind of beauty and had an element of magnanimity.

While talking to her, I was surprised to know she was quite aware of Bangladeshi cinema. She wanted to know about Anwar Hossain, Razzak, Babita and also praised Shabana and me for our acting.

She treated me with tea, cookies and ‘naroos’.

I told her, “Why did you quit acting?”

In reply, she said, “Is there any director?”

At one stage, Suchitra expressed her wish to visit Bangladesh.

Suchitra: Can I go there secretly?

Alamgir: I cannot guarantee you that.

Suchitra: I want to go Jessore and Pabna.

Alamgir: You are from Jessore. Why do you want to visit Pabna?

Suchitra: I was born in Pabna and spent quite a lot of time there. I have never visited Jessore though my ancestral home is there.

I was given 15 minutes to stay at Suchitra Sen’s house but spent around one hour.

After the meeting, I grew a kind of intimacy with her and met her four times and had telephonic conversations on several occasions.

*This piece, originally published in Prothom Alo Bangla, has been rewritten in English by Imam Hossain.