Cinema VinesVeteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, 70, is in critical condition at the state‑run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, where he is on a ventilator and under close medical observation, according to reports from the Press Trust of India citing industry sources.
Sen was admitted on Saturday after a long history of age‑related ailments and complications that have plagued him for years. The director’s health crisis is believed to stem from a serious back injury sustained on the set of his film Maya Mridanga many years ago. Although the injury was initially deemed non‑critical, it gradually impaired his mobility and later contributed to neurological issues.
Earlier this year, doctors noted weakness in Sen’s lower body and discovered a complex neurological condition. He underwent major surgery in February, which reportedly yielded some improvement. However, his condition has since worsened, prompting concern among his family and the Bengali film community.
Born in 1955 in Kolkata, Raja Sen rose to prominence in the 1990s with the teleserial Subarnalata and a series of acclaimed feature films. His debut feature, Damu, won the National Award for Best Children’s Film, and he later received the National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Atmiyo Swajan. His work has also earned recognition at international film festivals.
Sen’s hospitalization has shocked the film fraternity, as he has been a respected figure in Bengali cinema for decades. His family and colleagues are monitoring his condition closely, hoping for a recovery after the recent deterioration.
