Mrinal Sen bestowed with Osian's lifetime achievement award

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) Eminent filmmaker and pioneer of alternative cinema Mrinal Sen was Friday felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th edition of the Osian's Cinefest Film Festival 2008 here.

The award was given by filmmaker Mani Kaul.

After receiving the Lifetime Achievement award, which has been instituted for the first time as part of the festival, Sen said: 'Once again I am reborn. With quiet dignity I receive this award. It is great to have received such an award from such distinguished people. But I am not so happy at the same time.

'I have a feeling that perhaps I could do something more than this. Nothing is the last word in aesthetics. It can grow. So on one side, I feel very happy and on the other hand I don't know whether I deserve this award or should I do some more to satisfy the people who have given me the award.'

Over a career spanning five decades, Sen has made over 30 films, scripted 19 more and produced four.

His landmark film 'Bhuvan Shome' is widely recognised as the work that launched the 'New Wave' in Indian cinema.

Sen is also a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest distinction given to an Indian filmmaker by the government of India.

The French government has decorated him with the Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.

He has not only made films in his mother tongue Bengali but also experimented with Hindi, Telugu and Oriya films.