Bangla Telefilm Club's fourth screening

As scheduled BTC held its fourth screening on 12 August, Sunday. Max Mueller Bhawan witnessed more celebrities than ever in a BTC screening.

Among film and television directors were- Aparna Sen, Gautam Ghosh, Anjan Dutt, Malay Bhattacharya, Raja Dasgupta, Subroto Sen, Mainak Bhowmick (Of Aamra fame), Parambrata Chatterjee, Anindya Ghosh, Avijit Guha and Birsa Dasgupta.

Among actors were- Nitya Ganguly, Debleena Dutt, Aparajita Ghosh Das, Kanchan Mallik, Rudranil Ghosh, Moumita Gupta, Bidipta Chakraborty, Saswati Guha Thakurta and Chaitali Dasgupta.

The telefilm- Ekti Romharshak Dakatir Gappo (A Tara Muzik telefilm) a classy work by young Birsa Dasgupta (Also known as the son of filmmaker Raja Dasgupta).

Pictures

1. The gorgeous Aparna sen.

2. Aparna talking to the audience about Birsa.

3. Arin Paul, the brain behind BTC.

4. Birsa Dasgupta and Chaitali Dasgupta (Actor and renowned television personality).

Rabindrasangeet in a cool avatar

The Bong Connection has sparked discussions for its own take on Rabindrasangeet among other things. The film features a Rabindrasangeet- Pagla hawar badal dine- in a very unusual, tachno form. What is obvious is the song, just like the film, was designed to appeal to the youth who don't anymore find Rabindrasangeet 'cool'. As expected, many self-confessed Rabindrasangeet lovers have rubbished the new-age treatment.

What is not obvious was the young producer's ambition- Can't we find Rabindrasangeet playing at the discos? They play Punjabi songs frequently, why not Bengali songs including Randrasangeet?

Has the tall aim been reached? Apparently yes. As I just now sneaked into the Orkut community named after the film, Shaoni, a community member reveals that as she was in Tantra in the first week of August, the song was being played, with the crowd 'dancing and singing the song loud'.

Kudos to Neel (the music director) for giving a new life and dimension to our very own Rabindrasangeet and Joy (the producer) for materializing an ambition that will have many cheering to it!

Kolkata factoids 1

INOX, the multiplex chain that introduced Kolkata to multiplexes in September 2003, has a 50-60 % average occupancy rate in the city. This is the highest among the chain in the country, as Vikas Syal, the Regional General Manager has shared with The Telegraph's today's issue.

No wonder this. Kolkata has always surprised the organised retail industry with its retail outlets clocking the highest sales in the entire chain in the country, sometimes in the first year itself- be it Music World or Pantaloons or Westside. Its but natural that the same effect will be carried to organised film exhibition arena as well.

To salute this incredible response INOX is set to open a four-screener at City Centre 2 in New Town, Rajarhat, a five-screener at Diamond City North mall on Jessore Rd by 2008. The 89 Cinemas chain, which it took over, will open a four-screener (its second in the city) at Panditiya Rd in the same time frame.

Finally they did it!!

Yesterday was the one of the most memorable days in life of all the people in Bengal and other parts of India and the world for whom two colours matter most- dark green and maroon. Yes, I'm talking about all the fans and supporters of Mohun Bagan, one of the giants among football clubs in the city. It was a 'Big match' yesterday as Mohun Bagan clashed with their arch-rival East Bengal, the other giant.

It's incredible that no less than seven goals were scored in the rain-soaked game in the stipulated time, and Mohun Bagan emerged the winners at 4-3. Never in the past has Mohun Bagan scored as many goals against East Bengal, the highest being 3. Had it not been for a silly miss, MB would equal EB's record of 5 goals against MB in the black day for the latter- the '75 IFA Shield final. The four goals must have acted as a balm for Mohun Bagan supporters in living with that deep wound.

Kasha Mangsho goes national!

Read some weeks back in The Telegraph that a couple of enterprising Bengalis have teamed up to bring back the 'Golbari' brand of 'Kasha Mangsho', a hot favourite Bengali preparation, in a grand way and with wide reach. Last year as Golbari at Shyam Bazar junction faced an unceremonious closure, its bunch of loyals was aghast. To their united cheer, the famed dish, served with ghee-smeared rotis (Another Golbari special that looks like a cross between roti and paratha) will come back in the upcoming eatery Koshe Kasha..

Koshe Kasha is set to debut in Sandhya Tara, the rooftop food court at Star Theatre this 15th August. It will be followed by more in the city and a national rollout. And if that fares well, an international rollout is there in the ambitious plan.

I remembered the Telegraph report as I read a nice post about the chain in the Kolkata blog KolkataMusing yesterday. Visit it for further details.

Watch out this space for an update.

The 'Bong Connection' Wave

The Bong Connection seems to have made the desired connect with Bongs and non-Bongs (Incl. Bongs-at-heart) of the city. Everywhere young folks are talking of checking it out, and interestingly they include those who don't watch movies frequently. The movie has completed two weeks starting with a terrific opening at multiplexes. In the current week- the third- all plexes are running two shows incl. one at prime slot. And this is happening after taking on the mights of biggies like Harry Potter (released last week) and Partner starring Salman and Govinda (Released today).

The not-so-flattering reviews on news channels notwithstanding (Anandabazar Patrika, the leading Bengali daily of the city published a flattering review) it has evoked strong liking from the young, as evident on the film's community on Orkut, named after the title. One of the most noticeable messages is that they want to watch exactly this kind of new-age flick. The producer's scrapbook is full of congratulatory scraps.

Looks like Kolkata has finally got its new-age flick that it can watch over and over again and recommend to others. Anjan Dutta finally has a winner after the debut dud Bada Din. He can forget that painful wait before the release of Bong Connection now. As a double bonanza for him and his fans, his long-in-the-cans second film Bow Barracks Forever hits the screens later this month.

A celeb-studded affair

While I was looking for the way to the entrance of the building which was the venue of Bangla Telefilm Club's (BTC) third screening on Sunday 8 July, I saw celebrities pouring in thick- Rishi Kaushik (Looking dashing as on screen- small or big, in a body-fit black tee and jeans), Aparajita Ghosh Das, Barun Chanda (Whose claim to fame is the hero of Ray's Seemabaddha) and Rajatava Dutta.

Inside volunteering members were busing enrolling new members. A good number of patrons became members. A leaflet briefing BTC and its partners were being circulated. I spotted more from the television industry among those present and stepping in- director duo Sudeshna Roy-Abhijit Guha, director Tathagata Banerjee (The other half of this duo Anindya Ghosh came a little later), actor Nitya Ganguly and singer-actor Monali Thakur. Rana Basu Thakur, a senior marketing pro in Reliance Mobile, also known for his creative pursuits which includes Coolkatha.com was present too. He is also part of BTC's creative committee.In the brief introduction by the official spokesperson Tanmoy (Being a RJ on the move he merits the job almost by default) the new supporters of BTC- The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Eisenstein Cine Club (One of Kolkata's oldest film clubs) and OurDreamz Cine-Works and the new blog partner Kolkata Curry (In the age of media partners possibly for the first time someone went a step ahead and thought of a blog partner) were acknowledged and the creative committee of BTC was announced. The commitee boasts of well-known names like Kaushik Ganguly and Raja Sen, besides Anindo Bandopadhyay, Atanu Ghosh, Anindya Ghosh, and Rana Basu Thakur. Post a short film called Ek Din by Sudipta Banerjee, the screening of the day's telefilm, Daho, a comic thriller by Anindya Banerjee started. It was aired on Zee Bangla.

The telefilm was enjoyed by many, as evident by members with full-blown praise in the post-screening interactive session attended by director Anindo Bandopadhyay, cast members Rajatava, Nitya Ganguly, script-writer Anuja Chattopadhyay, assistant director Deboleena Dutta ( Better known as an actor) and cinematographer PB Chaki. Barun Chanda broke the ice by enquiring about the twist at the end of the tele. He encouraged Anindo to look for greener pasture in big screen as he believed the director was qualified for it. Anindo shared how the idea of the tele was born in an adda (Chat session) at a tea stall outside a studio. Rajatava spoke about his interpretation of the character played by him.

The visitors' book recorded many entries full of appreciation at the end. Looking forward to the fourth outing of BTC in a grander manner.

Pictures above: 1.Rajatava Dutta and PB Chaki, 2. Aparajita Ghosh Das and Rishi Kaushik, 3. From left- Anindya Banerjee and Anuja Chattopadhyay, and from right- Deboleena Dutta and PB Chaki in the interactive session, 4. Barun Chanda.

Bangla Telefilm Club's third screening

Bangla Telefilm Club (Popularly known as BTC) is going to hold its first major screening tomorrow at Bengal Creations, A Cultural Hub at 18A Park Street, Stephen Court, 3rd Floor, Kolkata 17 (The building which houses Peter Cat). A full house of 100-plus invitees are expected. The telefilm will be projected on screen, unlike the last two shows on video. The huge demand for seats in its screenings on and after the second screening on June 10 prompted Arin and other active BTC members to look for a spacious place for future screenings.

Meanwhile BTC has become a members-only club with nominal membership fees (Details in its website), which was a necessity due to funds required for the screenings and other establishment costs. So far it has more life members on board than those who opted for quarterly or annual memberships.

The telefilm that will be screened tomorrow is Daho by Anindo Bandopadhyay, aired on Zee Bangla. Have a look at an web album with its stills here.

Those who are keen to check out the third screening are welcome, subject to spot-registration as member at the venue before the show.

The Bong Connection

After keeping the curious Kolkatans on a long wait The Bong Connection is releasing nationally tomorrow. Touted as Kolkata's first crossover movie about Bengalis in contemporary global scenario, this Anjan Dutt-directed English film (Generously sprinkled with Bengali dialogues) is an ambitious venture of Kolkata-based Moxie Entertainments debuting with this movie as a producer.

The film has been shot in Kolkata, and Houston, US by a young crew (Except Anjan, who is in his fifties, with a young mind) last year. The music by Neel Dutt (Also known as the son of Anjan Dutt) will have new sounds, compared to films produced from Kolkata. The mix ranges from Baul and Rabindrasangeet (Treated to a trans-techno feel) to an English song. The four protagonists are Raima Sen, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Shayan Munshi and Peeya Roy Choudhury.

The film is being intensely promoted in the city since two weeks back through panel discussions, interactive sessions and jam sessions by father-son musical duo Anjan and Neel.

Above are some stills from the film (Courtesy Coolkatha).

EKK's first milestone

1. Name: Shibu Tudu.
Location: Ilampur village of Hooghly district.
Trivia: Mother died in cancer, father is suffering from paralysis.
Achievement: Ranked under SC/ST-87 in WBJEE (Engineering entrance) 2007.

2. Name: Subrata Burman.
Location: Roygunge, Uttar Dinajpur district.
Profession: Mason.
Achievement: WBJEE: Engineering: General-3512, SC-109. Medical: General-766, SC-30.

Shibu wanted to pursue engineering, Subrata aspired to be a doctor. None of them knew how. Poverty came between them and their aspirations.

And then Eso Kichhu Kori (Read about them in my earlier posts Eso Kichhu Kori, Eso Kichhu Kori: Time to pitch in and Two websites) identified them and pitched in with sponsorships under its project Sopan. And its great to tell you that Shibu has just been admitted in BESU Shibpur and Subrata in Calcutta Medical College.

Here's wishing Shibu and Subrata all the luck. For EKK it is just the beginning. Kudos to EKK!!!

Kolkata bods

As reported in today's T2, designer Jatin Kochhar doesn't see himself retailing his just-showcased bikini line from Kolkata. Simply because his observant eyes didn't meet with a single girl with a bikini body in this city.

Well, he is largely right. But he should have seen more of Kolkata streets, shopping malls and high-end eatery zones. There indeed are girls fitting the bill, as evident in the way they carry off trendy clothes demanding great shape. But indeed most of the young bunch are blissfully ignorant of something called 'shape' despite a yen for jeans (its all low-waist now) and short/ fitting tee. While many are downright fat or obese making an awful show in the said clothes others have bulges here and there marring the otherwise good look.

Possibly this city is too lazy and a great foodie to feel excited by trendy bikinis. T2 took the remark sportingly, but came out with a get-a-bikini-bod-in-two-months plan with advice from a fitness expert, a lifestyle coach, a beautician and a style coach. It remains to be seen how seriously Kolkatans respond to the story as will be evident in the next published T2 mailbox.

A dance show

Checked out the first celebrity dance show of competitive kind on Bengali television. Rituparna Sengupta-promoted Jhum Ta Ra Ra Ra debuted on ETV Bangla last Wednesday with a bunch of well-known young faces of Bengali tele. It is aired on every Wednesday and Thursday at 9.30 pm.

It is obviously inspired by Star One's big hit Nach Baliye which brought in a new genre of entertainment-based reality show on Indian television. The format has similarities. There are three judges- Tanushree Shankar, a danseuse, Prabhat Roy, a topline mainstream Bengali film director and actress-dancer Indrani Dutta, it has camera in the greenroom and a choreographer to work with every participant. But what is remarkable is the sheer attitude with which this show is attempted. Everybody surely knew that in production value and in terms of dancing talent the show will be far away from Nach Baliye. But the makers made good use of a limited budget and picked up the best available talent (Albeit some first choices either not available or refusing to take part in a competition). The Nitish Roy-designed set looks good.

I could not make it before the second episode. The participants are Debdut Ghosh, Soumili Biswas, Sagnik, Monami Ghosh, Deboleena Dutta and Sonali Choudhury. Soumili, Deboleena and Sonali are trained in classical dance (Deboleena teaches dance too). They attempted a mix of Hindi film numbers and Bengali modern song. Eye catchers were Deboleena's turn with Takhon tomar ekush bochhor bodh hoy fantasizing Uttam Kumar (Two boards of his photographs were kept on the stage) and Sagnik's Main hoon Don act. Monami looked glam in her costume modelled after the film (Taal) whose song Dil yeah bechain hai she swayed to.Tanushree couldn't help but let know that Sagnik looked attractive (Read hot) and would do well taking the overcoat off giving a hint of his well-built physique. Sagnik didn't blush but, as is common with a Bengali actor.

Sonali came in a ghaghra and a loose-fitting full choli. She hardly looks like a former model these days, with consistent weight-gain. But the costume didn't help. If she wasn't comfortable carrying off a ghaghr-choli she could've opted for a different number (She attempted a famous Jaya Prada number from Sargam).

Indrani was the toughest judge to please, as she didn't mince words. Prabhat Roy was the easiest with almost no negative comments. Tanushree struck the necessary balance. It was good to see Prabhat taking a note of the talent of local choreographers and promising to work only with them in his next project. He wondered why the directors (including him) always work with choreographers from Mumbai and Chennai where local talent can deliver so well.

Two websites

Eso Kichhu Kori, the Kokata-based NGO working towards supporting underprivileged meritorious students (Re: Earlier posts Eso Kichhu Kori: Time to pitch in and Eso Kichhu Kori), has its website up for checking out. It was there since its inception but has been worked on recently and lots of content has been added. Feedback of EKK community members on Orkut played a vital role in giving it the final shape. It has been executed by some of its members.

EKK was recently covered in this story by The Telegraph, which talked about the Orkut community that is its genesis. Its latest accomplishments were mentioned.

The indomitable Arin Paul, the founder of Bangla Telefilm club, which has recently switched to a members-only avatar thanks to its rapidly increasing patrons, has launched a temporary website for the club. According to unconfirmed sources it is the only telefilm club in the country.

Here's wishing both EKK and BTC websites a great journey ahead. May they connect to many, many like-minded people through their virtual entities.

Finally the rains....and how

The earnestly prayed for rains finally made a backdoor entry to Kolkata. Started last evening precisely, the overnight showers ensured several vulnerable and not-so-vulnerable pockets get waterlogged. This included regulars like Bangur, Ultadanga, Camac Street, Minto Park and not-so-regulars like the stretch from Park Circus junction to Bridge no. 4.

Rickshawwalas had a field day escorting people from badly affected areas, charging a premium. With fewer buses plying, officegoers were the troubled lot. I didn't get a Whiteliner from Baguiati, so had to drop at Beleghata to catch a second bus or a shuttle car to my Beckbagan office. The wait was painfully long but, as most of the shuttle cars were heading to Park Circus and my bus (The SBSTC white mini) was elusive. Finally got lucky with a shuttle car (Was really lucky as it was a Chevrolet) but it stopped at least 10 times before Park Circus, so terrible were the traffic jams triggered by waterlogging.

The silver lining was the respite from the sweltering heat with the infamous killing humidity of Kolkata, with RH (Relative humidity) reading often going northwards from 90%.

The exciting release roster

The release roster for Kolkata films this month and the next looks exciting. Jara Brishtite Bhijechhilo by Anjan Das releases June 8. The Bong Connection by Anjan Dutt releases June 22. And Anuranan by debutant Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, a Mumbai-based ad filmmaker, releases July 6 (Check its wonderful website following the link).

Jara Brishtite Bhijechhilo is Anjan's second adaptaion of Joy Goswami's work after the critically acclaimed, lyrical Saanjhbatir Rupkathara. Unlike the first, Jara... is a novel in verse, hence challenging for a filmmaker to adapt on screen. But it looks safe in the able hands of Anjan. It has a cast of Saumitra Chattopadhyay, Roopa Ganguly, Indrani Halder, Joy Sengupta from Mumbai (as Arani Sen, the protagonist, created in the mould of Joy Goswami himself as in the novel) and Ishwari Bose Bhattacharya, an actress born and brought up in France. The film explores various relationships in the life of Arani, the poet. In another track is this lesbian relationship between the characters played by Roopa and Ishwari.

Anuranan is the first Bengali film shot in London in an extensive schedule. It has an ensemble cast of Rituparna- Rahul Bose- Raima- Rajat Kapoor. It explores contemporary urban married relationships.

The grand launch

My sincere apologies to my readers for writing late about something which I sincerely feel deserved an early post.

The Bong Connection, the film the entire Kolkata youth is awaiting for a long time, had its music launch on 25 May at Kund area of City Centre. What a grand launch!! As the talented compere Jimmy Tangree (Known to the city as the voice of Red FM) mentioned, hardly any Indian film ever had an open-air music launch.

It started with a musical performance on-stage by the film's music director Neel Dutt (Also known as son of Anjan Dutt), director Anjan Dutt ( A popular singer-composer-lyricist as well) and their friends, with Parambrata Chattopadhyay (Looking cool in a milk white short shirt and denim), one of the lead actors in the film singing the title song (Sung by Rupankar in the film). The album was unveiled by Parambrata, Raima Sen (One of the two female keads), the producer Joy B Ganguly (Of Moxie Entertainments) and Arindam Sil, the executive producer. The producer, the executive producer and cast & crew present there talked about the film which, as the director put it, is a 'fun film about Bengalis in English language' and was never meant to be a 'Mahaan' ('Great' in Bengali) film. Song snippets were shown on two giant screens. Dibyendu, the young singer who has sung a bhatiyali rock number sang it on stage. The event ended with a jam session that saw Anjan belting out some popular numbers from his first album. He started with 'Mary Ann' which as he put it was a song about Christian Bengalis, followed it with 'Raanjana ami aar asbona' which was about a 'Muslim Bengali' and 'Haripada ekjon sadamata chhotokhato lok' which talked about a 'Hindu Bengali'. Kay Kay Menon, currently shooting Anjan's BBD in the city, also produced by Moxie, made a small appearance among cheers from audience and jokingly shared his 'Bong connection' (That he has a Bengali wife) and 'Non-Bong connection (That he hates eating fish).

The album has about six tracks including a nice remixed Rabindrasangeet sung by Nachiketa.

The film releases on June 22.

Search for new faces

Tollygunge is in eternal and desperate search of new faces to play its leading ladies. Topline director Haranath Chakraborty said on a Bengali news channel last year that he was seriously looking for a new girl to play the lead in his next, to roll out this year. Anandalok, the leading Bengali cine magazine held its own talent hunt to find the elusive new face for a heroine's slot. But the girl who won ended up signing a film with Prabhat Roy, a successful mainstream director, for a character role in under-production Pitribhoomi.

One of the characteristics of the Bengali is looking beyond the obvious. Bengali television, at any moment, can offer at least 3-4 contenders for the leading lady's slot in any mainstream flick. Not that all of them are deprieved, but film industry hasn't been fair to them for reasons best known to it. For an instance Arunima Ghosh, the naughty-sweet looking actress (Picture left, with Prasenjit in Sangharsha. Source The Telegraph.) who can boast of a perfect figure (A rarity among Bengali actresses) and carry off any outfit a heroine wears, besides proven acting talent, got break in two films opposite Prasenjit, the superstar of Bengali cinema. So far, so good. But while the first film was a hit and the second somewhat successful, Arunima vanished from the big screen subsequently.

Arunima is among the bunch of young, aspiring actresses who can provide enough options to any Bengali film director not to look elsewhere in casting his heroine(s). They score well on glamour quotient and acting prowess. Keeping her company are Rimjhim Mitra, Ananya Chatterjee and Rituparna. And if Bollywood has a Konkona Sen Sharma (Albeit from Kolkata), we have a Sudipta Chakraborty to boot.

Looks like the Haranath Chakrabotys, Swapan Sahas and Prabhat Roys don't watch television, neither anybody in their units whose opinions matter. Pray how could they overlook that the current heartthrob Swastika is from television, so are her seniors Rituparna Sengupta and Indrani Halder?

Bablooda changes guard

He has served his club for seventeen years (1974- 1991) with a loyalty that is no short of a legend and unmatched till today. All the more so because his club, Mohun Bagan, is one of Kolkata football's Big three and among the top clubs in Indian football. His car was maroon- one of the colours of Mohun Bagan jersey. The competitors of his club desperate to poach him have invariably faced the deepest of frustration whenever he had turned down the most tempting of offers. The name of this rock-solid defender will be embossed in history of Indian football and in the heart of every football-lover in Bengal no matter where his/ her loyalty lies.

His undying love for his club translated into active association even after he hung up his boots, as he moved into a coaching career. Under his guidance Mohun Bangan claimed the national league title twice besides one runner-up finish in the most glorious of his three stints as coach. His success as a Mohun Bagan coach is not matched by too many of his peers.

He is Subrata Bhattacharya, among the alltime best of Bengal's football talents.

And then came the dark phase. After a few disappointing games, he was accused of foul-mouthing his boys, alarmingly losing popularity among them and resistant to any advice and intervention of club officials in selecting players. He was sidelined in his club and unceremoniously dropped as a coach. The treatment he got in his own club post his career as a footballer will find few parallels in Indian football.

And when he finally made up his mind to join Mohun Bagan's arch rival East Bengal during the last two days, it created a stir. "How, just how, could Bablooda (As he is popularly known) do this to us?", fumed Mohun Bagan supporters. Finally yesterday he visited East Bengal tent among ecstatic East Bengal supporters to collect the confirmation letter and attend a press conference. What the East Bengal officials have done is no less than a recruiting coup, the answer to the one Mohun Bagan did long back as they poached Manoranjan Bhattacharya, who was East Bengal's answer to Mohun Bagan's Subrata till he switched loyalties.

I wonder what those who feel betrayed or let down are up to. The logic, rational or emotional, is too strong to defy. On a rational point of view he is a professional coach, and a professional coach doesn't look at personal loyalties in joining a club. East Bengal needed, going by the new AIFF guidelines for all teams taking part in the first professional league set to start this year, a coach with a coaching license. And Subrata has one, unlike Subhas Bhowmick, one of the other names discussed in the meeting to select the coach. And on an emotional point of view, how many miles does one walk holding the hands, when the insults from the loved one refuses to stop?

I am sure there are many Mohun Bagan fans who buy this logic and are not feeling 'betrayed'.

Wish you a great time Bablooda, do better than what you've achieved so far. And prove your worth to those who reposed faith in you. And I said all this being a Mohun Bagan supporter.

A cool site on Kolkata

Finally a really cool site on Kolkata by a Kolkataholic. Named Coolkatha.com, it deliberately sounds phonetically resembling the city's name.

At one level, Coolkatha intends to be a place to check out all that is cool about Kolkata and at the other level it aims to connect all Kolkatans away from the city on a common forum. The sharing of thoughts needn't be restricted to everything Kolkata, it can transcend borders and talk of issues that one feels like raising. It has a chatbox for the online members known or unknown to each other to interact, and a mailbox for private messages among members. One can speak his/ her heart out about anything, as evident from the scribbles, without being pretentious.

The Fillumz section, discussing cinema, has three interesting interviews related to the under-production Bengali film No Poblem. The first is of its director Soumik (Whose earlier interview is on this blog in the post A new-age Kolkata comedy), followed by one of its leading lady Mumtaz Sorcar, one by India's legendary magician PC Sorcar (Jr) who happens to be Mumtaz's father and the last is of Dr Kaushik Ghosh, an orthopedic surgeon by profession and an actor by passion.

Here's wishing Coolkatha a happy journey ahead. For more on this site, watch this space.

Feluda has got a new case

Today is indeed a happy day for all Feluda lovers in the know. The most popular Bengali sleuth on fiction got a new case to crack on screen.

After a painful gap of many a month since Tintorettor Jishu's last shot was canned and then its final schedule in Hong Kong never fell in place thanks to mismanagement at producer's end, Sandip Ray started his next full-length Feluda flick Kailashe Kelenkari yesterday, with the same cast of Sabyasachi, Parambrata and Bibhu Bhattacharya. The delay on Tintorettor Jishu was getting to the nerves of everyone concerned (Including the Feluda lovers), more so of Sandip. And when the possibility of the schedule to materialize dimmed down beyond hopes after a couple of postponements, he laid his hands on to the next chosen Feluda story for scripting. As it happened, another producer ( T Sarkar Productions who has produced the recent Hungama and is making Chorabali on Zee Bangla) had expressed interest to Sandip to make the next Feluda film after Tintorettor Jishu, followed by a Feluda film in a regular interval, hence he didn't have to look for a producer. Post a quick recce in Ellora caves where the climax will be shot, and ensuring all permissions are in place (Taking a hard lesson from the aborted Tintorettor Jishu) Sandip wasted no time in getting down to write the script.

It was beyond me why after a giant success like Bombaiyer Bombete, the first full-length Feluda film shot by Sandip (The third in the Feluda series), released in 2003, no one from the producer's fraternity saw enough merit (Common sense to be more apt) to produce the next Feluda film. On the other hand our film industry is always blaming lack of good stories to be made into films these days. While Hollywood leaves no stones unturned to run the legendary James Bond franchise, including remaking Casino Royale, we are so blissfully ignorant of our invaluable Feluda franchise which commands incredible loyalty across age groups still today and in Bengalis around the globe. A Feluda film can fetch an entire family to the theatre, which is an exceptional phenomenon today. Hence business-wise a Feluda film a safe bet any day. I don't exactly have a clue the way it is these days but in our teens and pre-teens no one's Bengali literary acumen was complete without a no. of Feluda short stories and novels. Feluda has been published in other languages, made on a series on national television produced by Satyajit Ray himself (The creator of Feluda) and recently a series has been made for BBC radio where Rahul Bose has played Feluda.

More on Feluda and Kailashe Kelenkari later. Meanwhile wishing all the very best to the unit of the film for a timely finish.