Be prepared to be awed and inspired by this legend of Indian cinema, in town for a mini-retrospective of her directorial work screening this weekend.

Aparna Sen is one of the most celebrated figures of cinema in India, starting her career in Satyajit Ray’s Samapti, before working with directors ranging from Mrinal Sen to James Ivory.

She famously became the face of Monsoon India on the cover of Life Magazine, immortalized as a fresh faced 15-year old by Magnum photographer Brian Brake.

Born in Kolkata (then called Calcutta) of high caste parents in the arts, Sen has received several accolades as an actress and filmmaker, including nine National Film Awards, five Filmfare Awards East and thirteen Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. For her contribution in the field of arts, the Government of India honoured her with Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award. The rest, as they say, is history.

Sen will be in London this weekend for a double bill of her work at the Institut Français’ Ciné Lumière in South Kensington. Sen will be joining the audience in person for an extended conversation about her career in cinema, and to talk about the restored version of her 1981 directorial debut 36 Chowringhee Lane as well as the wonderful House of Memories (2000).

Back in NYC, during the 2010 Engendered I-View Film Festival, which I helped to curate, I got to meet and mingle with Sen and she was incredibly inspirational.

To purchase tickets and find out more, check out the Ciné Lumière website.