Moonmoon Sen
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Moonmoon Sen (also credited as Moon Moon Sen (Bengali: মুনমুন সেন) (b. 28 March 1948)[1] is an Indian film actress and the daughter of Suchitra Sen. She is the mother of actresses Raima Sen and Riya Sen.
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[edit] Early life
Her father Dibanath Sen, of Ballygunge Place, Calcutta, was the son of one of the wealthiest business men of Calcutta, Adinath Sen. Her mother, Suchitra Sen, was a popular Bengali actress who made a successful entry after marriage into Bengali films circa 1952, and then a less successful transition to the Bollywood film industry. According to unconfirmed but persistent reports in the Bengali press, her parents' marriage was severely strained by her mother's success in acting.
Moon Moon was educated in Darjeeling and at Loreto House in Kolkata, then in a British school in England and graduated from Somerville College, University of Oxford. She received her masters in Comparative Literature from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. According to an interview in 2000[2], she taught at Ballygunge Girls' School for a year and then taught graphics at Chitrabani, a school teaching film techniques. She was also active in social work and even thought about adopting a baby alone, before meeting and marrying her husband.
Moon Moon taught English at a well known Boy's school in Kolkata before joining films.[citation needed]
Before and after entering the film work, she appeared alone (or with her daughters) in some modelling assignments. She notably modelled for soap ads[3] which were quite controversial in the 1980s.[citation needed].
Please look at that picture. She could afford to lose some fat from the sides. right?
[edit] Acting career
Moon Moon Sen has appeared in 60 films and 40 TV serials, making her debut in Andar Bahar (1984).[4]. Her daring role in that film apparently created a storm of controversy.
She has appeared in many Bengali regional films as well as Hindi films. She was a staple of the Bengali film industry, starring in many hit films. She eventually got offers to star in Bollywood films. She was moderately successful but was more successful in the Bengali industry. She has received awards such as the Nandi State Award, the Kalakendra Screen Award and the Bharat Nirman Award. She also appeared on Hindi and Bengali television. After Zakhmi Dil (1994) she did not appear in films, however in 2003 she starred in the unsuccessful thriller Kucch To Hai. At no point, however, did her success match that of her mother, who was considered Bengali film's leading actress for nearly two decades.
Moon Moon Sen has acted in a number of films in other regional languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada as well as Marathi movies.
She has also acted in some television serials as well as a couple of Bengali tele-films.
She is now doing a few films at a time, such as a film in 2000 with younger daughter Riya.[5]. She is also apparently writing a cookbook in Bengali, which has not yet been published. Most recently, she has made occasional appearances, alone, or with her family, in the Page 3 sections of Indian newspapers, usually at polo events or film-related events, but also to promote new restaurants.
Moon Moon Sen is part of a three generational family (mother to daughter to granddaughters) who have all become actors, something that is rare in Indian cinema or even in world cinema.
[edit] Family
Moon Moon Sen is happily married since circa 1976-1978 to Bharat Dev Varma, a member of the royal family of the erstwhile Tripura state. (Her late mother-in-law Ila Devi was the princess of Cooch Behar, whose younger sister Gayatri Devi is the Maharani of Jaipur.) In an interview in 2000[6], the actress speaks highly of her husband, and his consistent support of her professional endeavours.
Moon Moon and Bharat Dev Varma have two daughters Raima (b. 1979) and Riya (b. 1981) who are established models and actresses in their own right.
[edit] Filmography
- It Was Raining That Night (2005)
- Bow Barracks Forever (2004) ... Rosi
- Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love (2003)
- Love at Times Square (2003) ... Sweety's mother
- Nil Nirjane (2003)
- Kucch To Hai (2003) ... Madam Sexena
- 12B (2001) .... Jo's Mom
- Zakhmi Dil (1994) ... Mala
- Zakhmi Rooh (1993) ... Seema/Reema
- Hirer Angti (1992)
- Waqt Ka Badshah (1992)
- Vishkanya (1991) ... Mrs. Sonal Vikram Singh
- Iraada (1991)
- 100 Days (1991) ... Sudha
- Bahaar Aane Tak (1990) ... Renu
- Jeevan Ek Sangharsh (1990)
- Lekin (1990) ... Pammi
- Pathar Ke Insan (1990) ... Dancer
- Apna Desh Paraye Log (1989)
- Ek Din Achanak (1989)
- Tere Bina Kya Jeena (1989)
- Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe (1989)
- Be Lagaam (1988)
- Woh Phir Aayegi (1988)
- Maashuka (1987)
- Amar Kantak (1987)
- Dance Dance (1987)
- Majnu (1987)
- Pyaar Ki Jeet (1987) ... Rani sahiba
- Sheesha (1986) ... Manisha Prakash
- Jaal (1986)
- Mohabbat Ki Kasam (1986) .... Radha
- Musafir (1986)
- Sirivennela (1986) ... Jyotirmayi
- Andar Baahar (1984) ... Reema
- Chorus (1974)
[edit] External link
Moonmoon Sen at the Internet Movie Database
[edit] Further reading
- Shoma A. Chatterjee. "Moon Moon Sen: Back in the Spotlight", Screen (part of the Indian Express group), November 24, 2000. An article based on an interview with Moon Moon Sen, discussing her career and her private life.
