Bondhu: My Father, My Friend

Kunal Sen's memoir, Bondhu, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life of his father, filmmaker Mrinal Sen, through the eyes of his son. It explores the intersection of his father's Marxist beliefs and the practical challenges of making a living, revealing a family's commitment to cinema and their sense of humor.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2023
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

"No one remembers when and why I started calling my father Bondhu. It was a strange way to address a father, as the word means 'friend in Bengali.' As I got older, I became very self-conscious about such an odd name. And yet, I cannot explain why I could not switch to the more acceptable Baba or something similar.

Just as Kunal Sen, son of actor Gita Sen and filmmaker Mrinal Sen, was approaching adolescence, his father's cinematic celebrity was reaching new heights. In this memoir, Kunal reflects on growing up in a middle-class household in South Calcutta, where his father's Marxist beliefs and unrelenting urge "to be challenged and contradicted" often collided with the practical challenges of making a living. Through it all, what emerges is a picture of a family's unyielding commitment to the craft of cinema, the risks each of its members took, and their endearing sense of humor. Celebrating Mrinal Sen's birth centenary in 2023, Bondhu takes us on an intimate journey of a son attempting to reconcile his father's public and private selves.

Kunal's childhood was spent in the shadow of his father's fame, as he attended film screenings and premieres, and was surrounded by the glamorous world of Indian cinema. However, behind the glitz and glamour, there were struggles and challenges. Kunal's father was a man of strong opinions and a fierce intellect, and his Marxist beliefs often clashed with the practical realities of filmmaking. He was a perfectionist who demanded the highest standards from his actors and crew, and his unrelenting urge to be challenged and contradicted often led to conflicts with his colleagues.

Despite these challenges, Kunal's father remained committed to his craft. He was a master storyteller who had a deep understanding of human emotions and a talent for capturing the essence of a scene on film. His films, such as Calcutta 71, Aparna Sen, and Padatik, were celebrated for their social commentary and their ability to engage audiences on a deep emotional level.

Kunal's memoir is a tribute to his father's legacy and a celebration of the power of cinema to inspire and transform. It is a story of a family's unbreakable bond, of the sacrifices each of its members made to pursue their dreams, and of the enduring impact of a father's love and guidance. As Kunal reflects on his childhood and his father's influence, he realizes that the lessons he learned from his father have stayed with him throughout his life. He has carried his father's passion for cinema with him, and has worked tirelessly to promote the art form and to ensure that it continues to thrive in India.

In conclusion, Bondhu is a captivating memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the life and work of filmmaker Mrinal Sen through the eyes of his son, Kunal. It is a story of struggle, sacrifice, and triumph, of a family's unwavering commitment to the craft of cinema, and of the enduring impact of a father's love and guidance. As we celebrate Mrinal Sen's birth centenary in 2023, we are reminded of the power of cinema to inspire and transform, and of the enduring legacy of a man who dedicated his life to the art form."

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803093178