Despite illness, Mrinal Sen was conscious about present situation: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who shared a very cordial relationship with Mrinal Sen, on Sunday said the legendary film-maker was in the know of things about the present situation in the country despite his illness. Sen passed away at his residence in Kolkata at 10.30 am after a prolonged battle with age-related ailments. Sen was leftist in his beliefs and lifestyle till the very end and he got the lessons of making films from his leftist ideology, the senior CPI(M) leader said.

"Despite his physical ailments, Sen was very much conscious about the present situation in the country and had a sense of discomfort for that. This came out from his conversations with me in recent times," Bhattacharjee said in a statement.

"From Chile, Russia, Germany and Italy to France, he had a large number of friends among directors of different countries. He was rooted to his land but had a truly international outlook. He was an international personality," Bhattacharjee said.

Left Front chairman and senior CPI(M) leader Biman Bose also condoled the death of Sen.

"He was a Marxist, a true human being and friend of the common people," Bose said.