Famous Personalities 18 August 2026
Three-Time National Award-Winning Bengali Filmmaker Raja Sen Passes Away at 71
Why in the News?
Acclaimed Bengali filmmaker and three-time National Film Award winner Raja Sen passed away at the age of 71 at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata due to prolonged health complications.
Key Features / Major Points:
3-Time National Award Winner: Raja Sen earned three National Film Awards across documentaries and feature films:
Suchitra Mitra (1992): Best Arts/Cultural Film (Documentary).
Damu: Best Children's Film (Feature Debut).
Atmiyo Swajan: Best Film on Family Welfare.
Literary Adaptations & TV Success: He achieved widespread acclaim for directing iconic Bengali TV serials based on literary works, including 'Subarnalata' (by Ashapurna Devi), 'Adarsha Hindu Hotel', and 'Arogya Niketan'.
Notable Feature Films: 'Desh' (2002, featuring Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan), 'Debipaksha', 'Laboratory' (based on Rabindranath Tagore's story, featuring Raveena Tandon), and 'Maya Mridanga'.
Other Honours: Received the Indira Gandhi Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 and Best Director Jury Award at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival in 2016.
Static GK Facts:
Inauguration of National Film Awards: 1954
First National Award for Best Feature Film: 'Shyamchi Aai' (Marathi)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award: India's highest award in cinema (First recipient: Devika Rani in 1969)
West Bengal Chief Minister: Suvendu Adhikari | Governor: R. N. Ravi
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Raja Sen, who recently passed away, was a veteran filmmaker from which regional cinema industry?
Answer: Bengali Cinema
Which debut feature film directed by Raja Sen won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film?
Answer: Damu