Mrinal Sen dead at 95: Celebrities and politicians mourn loss of filmmaker

"At the end of the year receiving news like demise of the legend Mrinal Sen saddens and shocks us. Mrinal jethu gave a new perspective to Indian Cinema. Its a huge loss for all of us. May his soul rest in peace," Bengali star Prosenjit Chatterjee tweeted. 

"An institution, a legend, a pioneer, a true storyteller. Mrinal sen DA passed away!!rest in peace sir!!your films will keep inspiring us and the generations to come after," wrote Hindi film actor Manoj Bajpayee in a tweet. 

"RIP Mrinal Sen. One of the finest filmmakers. His films were an inspiration.. Contemporary of Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak," tweeted Bollywood director Shoojit Sircar. 

Khushbu Sundar posted on Twitter, "#MrinalSen another legend departs leaving behind history and heart broken followers.. #RIP"

"Dear world of 240 characters, brilliance can't be chained with the idea of language. #MrinalSen directed films in #Bengali, #Hindi and #Telugu... and yet we make him trend as the "Noted Bengali Filmmaker". Phenomenons like him are born once in a lifetime and today he is gone. #Mrinal Da, we thank the lord for sending you, because without you the new wave in #cinema would have been incomplete. #RIP #MrinalSen," Ashoke Pandit said via Twitter.

"The passing of noted filmmaker and Padma Bhushan, Mr. #MrinalSen marks the end of an era. A Dada Sahib Phalke Awardee, his extraordinary storytelling made his films defining pieces of cinema. A great loss to the Indian film fraternity. My condolences to the family," tweeted the former CM of Rajasthan. 

Former President Pranab Mukherjee shared on Twitter, "Deeply saddened at the demise of Shri #MrinalSen.A creative genius, Mrinal Babu's artistic canvas covered the essence of India.His recognition through various national & international awards speak volumes of his work in the field of cinema. My condolences to his family & friends."

Tigmanshu Dhulia wrote on Twitter, "A legend has passed away who inspired so many film makers you were one of the reasons I took up film making...goodbye Mrinal Da we salute you."

"Mrinal Sen was one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. With his demise, we have lost the last of the formidable trinity of Ray, Sen and Ghatak in our cinema. He was a humanist to the core, and a filmmaker par excellence. He was never shy of experimenting with the medium. He, of course, had to a fight a lone battle to be noticed as opposed to the early recognition that came to Ray in abundance from the beginning. But he never gave up. His films have been greatly inspired by the hapless, and the downtrodden. His concern was for the have-nots and the uprooted. For me, he was a guide and an elder brother who always used to have keen interest in my work. Every time I made a film, I was particular to show it to him and get his response. Fortunately he was generous in his comments which encouraged me to continue with my struggles. Cinema was his passion. He dreamed cinema, breathed cinema and lived cinema. This is to quote him when he talked to the students of cinema at Film and Television Institute of India," Adoor Gopalakrishnan said in a statement.

Sitaram Yechury posted on Twitter, "Mrinal Sen’s passing away is a big loss not only to Cinema but to the world of Culture & India's civilisational values. Mrinal da radicalised Cinematography by his people-centric humanistic narrative. Deepest condolences.

"Our country is grateful to Shri Mrinal Sen for giving us some of the most memorable films. The dexterity and sensitivity with which he made films is noteworthy. His rich work is admired across generations. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and admirers," the prime minister wrote in a recent tweet.  

"Saddened by the demise of veteran filmmaker #MrinalSen. From Bhuvan Shome to Mrigayaa, his films were beautiful depictions of social realities on the silver screen. His passing away is the end of an era, and an irreparable loss for the Indian film industry," Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Rajyavardhan Rathore tweeted.

"Mrinal Sen no more .. a most amiable, distinguished creative cinematic mind, contemporary of Satyajit Ray and Rithik Ghatak.. I did my first ever voice over in his film BHUVAN SHOME .. prayers and condolences," Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan wrote in a tweet. 

"Saddened at the passing away of Mrinal Sen. A great loss to the film industry. My condolences to his family," Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. 

"#mrinalsen you will always be remembered. Rest in Peace," wrote megastar Mohanlal in a tweet.  

"What an amazing beautiful lifespan decorated with so many precious films. #MrinalSen will remain forever celebrated in the history of World Cinema , Indian Cinema and Bengali Cinema," tweeted filmmaker Onir.