Mrinal Sen's Legacy Secured in Kolkata Archive with Major Memorabilia Donation
The cinematic legacy of legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen and his wife, actress Geeta Sen, has found a permanent home in Kolkata. Their Chicago-based son Kunal Sen and daughter-in-law Nisha Ruparel Sen have donated an extensive collection of priceless memorabilia to the Jibansmriti Archive for professional preservation.
Treasure Trove of Personal and Professional Artifacts
The donated materials represent both the professional achievements and personal lives of the iconic couple. For the Geeta Sen Collection, the archive received domestic and personal belongings including her traditional nutcracker (jati), vermilion box (sindur-kouto), vintage tobacco container, shawl, personal jewelry, and even her voter ID card.
The collection also contains her Lux Trophy for Best Supporting Actress for the film ‘Khandahar’ alongside a substantial body of writing: 34 notebooks and diaries filled with handwritten thoughts, reflections, and personal letters that offer intimate insights into her life and mind.
Mrinal Sen's Cinematic Heritage Preserved
The Mrinal Sen donations include several landmark items of Indian cinema history. Most notably, the original Dadasaheb Phalke certificate awarded to the master filmmaker has been entrusted to the archive. Additionally, corrected proof pages of his autobiography ‘Tritiyo Bhuban’ containing his personal edits, and the original scripts for his unfinished film ‘Bhubaneswari’ form part of this significant collection.
Other valuable items include a personal letter from Mrinal Sen to Geeta Sen discussing the international reception of ‘Calcutta 71’, rare film stills, photographs taken by Sen during his trip to China, and a letter from Surama Ghatak to Geeta Sen written for Mrinal Sen's birthday.
Archive Home at Anya Theatre Bhaban
The premises of Anya Theatre Bhaban in Karunamoyee, Salt Lake, have been officially offered to house this specialized archive. This development represents a collaborative initiative between the Jibansmriti Archive and Anya Theatre to create a dedicated preservation space named ‘Mrinal-Manjusha’.
"It is my privilege that the remnants of a life lived in art are finding a permanent home at ‘Mrinal-Manjusha’ that we have created in this space," said Arindam Saha Sardar, the archive's curator who personally received the donations.
Intimate Glimpses into a Filmmaker's Life
Among the most revealing items is a six-page letter Mrinal Sen wrote to his wife from Venice in 1972, when ‘Calcutta 71’ was part of the main selection at the Venice Film Festival. Recently shared by Kunal Sen through media channels, this letter reveals the filmmaker's newness to international attention, his vulnerabilities, financial uncertainties, and his identity as a family person.
"While all these items are special, my personal favourite are the diaries of Geetadi and this six-page letter Mrinal Sen wrote to her," confessed Sardar, who previously visited the Padmapukur residence where Mrinal Sen once lived to collect approximately 100 memorabilia items.
The curator emphasized the significance of receiving these donations directly from family members, noting that Kunal Sen also serves as an advisor to the archive, ensuring authentic preservation of his parents' legacy.
This comprehensive donation ensures that future generations of film enthusiasts, researchers, and historians will have access to authentic materials documenting the lives and work of two significant figures in Indian cinema, preserving their artistic contributions within the cultural fabric of Kolkata.
