Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen dies at 71

Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, best known for his National Award-winning film 'Damu', died at Kolkata's SSKM Hospital on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 71. Hospital sources said Sen had been on ventilator support for multiple complications involving his lungs, heart and kidneys, and his condition had deteriorated considerably in recent days. He was initially admitted to a private hospital after an injury to his lower back, but was moved to SSKM last Monday after developing lung and cardiac issues.

Sen made his feature debut with 'Damu' in 1996, which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film. His other films include 'Atmiyo Swajan', 'Desh', 'Debipaksha', 'Krishnakant er will', 'Laboratory' and 'Maya Mridanga'. The 2002 film 'Desh' featured Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. Sen also directed documentaries on cultural figures including Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra. His death has cast a pall over the Bengali film and television industry, where he worked for decades.