Mrinal Sen keeps away from film festival due to ideological clashes

When the film festival came to Mrinal Sen
"Govind Nihalani is coming to see me?" There is a twinkle in Mrinal Sen's eyes as he hears the news. ���It is really good to know that he will deliver the Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture at the Kolkata International Film Festival. I am waiting to meet him after a long gap. He is a thorough gentleman, made brilliant films, and is very close to Geeta and me," adds Sen.
The morning is sunny and the 92-year-old Sen, clad in all white, is at his south Kolkata residence even as the film festival has got underway.Nihalani may be dropping by at his home, but this will be the third consecutive festival where Sen will not be present. There was a time when you couldn't think of a film fest in Kolkata without him. ���But I have no regrets,��� he says. ���My ideology and views are not along the same lines as that of the present Bengal government. So I have decided to keep away just as a decent person should."
Astonishingly, hardly anyone has spoken out against this in Tollywood or elsewhere in the country. Sen is not at all surprised, rather he is non-committal. ���My ill health has restricted my movements. I do not blame anyone," he says.
From Kolkata 71 to Khandahar, Sen's place is assured in Bengali cinema's hall of fame.But what has he been watching recently? ���I saw Shabdo some time back and complimented KaushikGanguly highly," he says.
��� Ranjan Das Gupta