The Absence Trilogy (The India List)

An insightful presentation of Indian film scripts that explore alienation and loss in middle-class life.

Renowned Indian filmmaker Mrinal Sen, celebrated for his pioneering contributions to parallel cinema, offers sensitive portrayals of the middle-class psyche in his films Ekdin Pratidin, Kharij, and Ekdin Achanak. Regarded among his finest works, these films—though not strictly a trilogy, having been produced years apart—each explores the theme of absence: the sudden disappearance of an individual, the resulting exposure of underlying values, and the profound changes in relationships and attitudes among those left behind.

This volume features shot-by-shot reconstructions (as in post-production film scripts) of all three films, alongside a comprehensive introductory essay from Somnath Zutshi. It is richly illustrated with black-and-white reproductions of scenes from the films, providing a visual complement to the textual analysis. This edition brings Sen’s cinematic artistry and thematic depth to an international audience, offering an insightful exploration of his work.

Mrinal Sen (1923–2018) directed more than thirty feature films, documentaries, and telefilms. He was instrumental in launching the New Cinema movement in India with his critically acclaimed Bhuvan Shome (1969).