Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, best known for his National Award-winning film Damu, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026, at a state-run hospital following a prolonged illness. He was 71. The news of his demise has left the Bengali film industry and his fans in deep shock. Tributes have been pouring in on social media as fans and members of the film fraternity remember the filmmaker.
Raja Sen passes away at 71
National award-winning filmmaker Raja Sen died on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, Papiya Sen, and their two daughters, Subhasree and Sreyoshi Sen.
According to PTI, sources at the medical establishment said that Sen was undergoing treatment at SSKM Hospital for multiple health complications and was on ventilator support. A doctor told the agency, "He had multiple complications and his condition remained critical despite treatment. He was on ventilator support."
Sen made his feature film debut with Damu in 1996. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Children's Film, establishing him as a prominent filmmaker in Bengali cinema.
Raja Sen's notable work
For the unversed, Raja Sen began his career in television before moving to films with Damu. He won three National Film Awards and directed several acclaimed films, including Debipaksha, Desh and Bhalobasar Galpo.
His last completed feature was Bhalobasar Galpo, released in 2019, while Maya Mridanga was released in 2016.
About Raja Sen's death
As per PTI, veteran filmmaker Raja Sen died due to prolonged illness, aged 71, in Kolkata. He was under treatment at the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, where he was on a ventilator. Sen had been admitted to a private hospital after he suffered an injury in his lower back. He is said to have developed complications related to his lungs and heart during the course of his treatment. He was then taken to SSKM Hospital, where he developed further complications related to his kidneys.
Raja Sen's passing brings an end to a long and notable career across Bengali cinema, television and documentary filmmaking.
(With PTI inputs)
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Raja Sen dies at 71: Damu, Debipaksha to Bhalobasar Galpo, a look at his glorious filmography
