A new book on the late Bengali cinema icon Suchitra Sen offers a peep into the life of the elusive actress through rare photographs, replica of posters and insights offered by renowned filmmakers.

Titled 'Mahanayika' (great actress), the 500-page book was released Wednesday and has write-ups on Sen by director Ritwik Ghatak, Ajay Kar and Asit Sen, among others.

It also carries an article by Sen's biographer and friend Gopal Krishna Roy.

"Besides photographs and posters, there is a collection of news clippings reporting her death," Roy, who was present at the launch, told IANS.

The 82-year-old actress died at a nursing home here Jan 17 following a massive cardiac arrest.