It’s been almost fifteen days that the queen of Bengali Cinema, Suchitra Sen, has been battling for her life. The eighty two-year-old actress was admitted to Belle Vue Clinic on December 23, 2013 following a respiratory tract infection.
Her condition is said to be very critical after her breathing difficulties increased and oxygen saturation level dipped further on January 11, 2014, doctors attending to her said.
She faced a crisis during the day after which doctors took an emergency decision and used endotracheal intubation to remove the fluid accumulated in her lungs and ease her breathing, doctors said. A medical team led by Dr. Subrata Maitra is monitoring her condition round the clock.
Her blood sugar level is under control, but oxygen saturation is fluctuating making it a cause for concern, they said, adding that her low food intake has made her weak.
Her vital organs like kidney are, however, are working properly, critical care specialist Dr. Subrata Maitra has informed. The doctors have also consulted senior physician Dr. Sukumar Mukherjee. Suchitra Sen‘s diet has been currently overseen by Dr. Pawan Agarwal and Dr. Dhiman Ganguli.
As her health turned critical, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, CPI(M) leader Robin Deb and monks from the Ramakrishna Mission in Belurmath and Narendrapur visited the hospital.
Ms. Banerjee said, “This is a very sensitive period. We wish that she returns home fast.”
Rama Dasgupta or Suchitra Sen as we all know her started her career with the Bengali film Shesh Kothaay in 1952. She went on to receive a National Award for her performance in the 1955 Devdas, which was her first Hindi Film. She is also the first Indian actress to be awarded at an international film festival – Best Actress Award for Saptapadi – in the year 1963 at the Moscow Film Festival. The film also starred Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas and Chaya Debi and was directed by Ajoy Kar.
