Suchitra Sen's fans disappointed at being unable to see her

Fans of Suchitra Sen, who thronged to the crematorium where her body lay before being consigned to flames, were disappointed at not being able to catch a glimpse of the actress.

"Mahanayika Suchitra Sen, amra tomake dekhte elam, kintu dekhte parlam na (Great actress Suchitra Sen, we came to see you, but failed) read a placard held by a dismayed fan.

"We thought we will able to see Suchitra who remained out of public view for the last three decades," 52-year-old Seema Biswas said as she headed home from the Desh Bandhu Chatterjee Das Smriti crematorium.

A middle-aged fan Parul Haldar rued the fact that the actress' family did not allow her fans to pay their last respect to her.

Several ministers and the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation were present to see the arrangement for the actress' last rites.

There was huge deployment of police in and around the crematorium as the screen icon was brought in a coffin at 1.10 pm.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accompanied Suchitra's daughter Moon Moon Sen and her grand-daughters Raima and Riya Sen who came attired in white.

A gun salute was given soon after she was taken to the pyre.

Among those who came to the crematorium were Rupa Ganguly, Prosenjit, Biswajit and singer Indranil Sen.