Take a look at the new Durga Puja Special Photo Album at the right. It captures Puja right from the first sign (The white flowers, called 'Kash phool' in Bengali) to the last ritual (Bisarjan).
Will try and keep adding pictures to this album to make it as representative of Puja as possible.
The flavour of Kolkata
The city is known for its old alleys. One such is shot by Atanu Pal.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
BTC's fifh screening
BTC is now familiar to seeing its screenings being received well. The 9 September afternoon also saw a three-fourth full Rotary Sadan, with some high-voltage celebrity sparks.
The hottest screen couple of present Bengali cinema, Jeet & Swastika Mukherjee, saw the film with the audience. Swastika was there as a cast member of the telefilm being screened and Jeet came as a guest.
Others included actors Mamata Shankar, Indrani Halder, Jagannath Guha, singer Srikanta Acharya and familiar television faces like Debleena Dutta, Shiladitya Patranobis, Abir Chatterjee and Dr Basudeb Mukherjee. Also spotted telefilm director duo Anindya Ghosh- Tahagatha Banerjee. Among the cast & crew of the telefilm, an usual feature of a BTC screening, were actors Kaushik Sen, Badshah Moitra, Swastika Mukherjee, Rajat Ganguly, director Atanu Ghosh and cameraman Sandeep Sen.
The telefilm Megh Brishti Rodh, is a tale of three people, a woman (Swastika) who comes to terms with her present life of happiness and fulfilment as her traumatised past revisits her, her schizophrenic music lover ex-husband (Kaushik) and her sensitive present husband (Badsha). It boasts of a fine screenplay, matching dialogues, fine performances by Kaushik Sen, Badsha Moitra and Swastika Mukherjee, and well-sung Rabindrasangeets by Prabuddha Raha and Kaushik Sen.
In the post-screening interaction, Mamata Shankar became emotional as she expressed how it felt watching such a fine piece of work. She strongly advised Atanu Ghosh to switch to making feature films rightaway, as she felt he had what it takes to make the cut. She especially praised the casting which was just right (I completely agreed silently and later told that to the director). Jeet felt telefilm directors should try some light-hearted work besides such intense drama.
As Atanu revealed from a cue from the audience, the story idea struck him on a tour to Vellore, where he spotted a man in a hospital being visited by his ex-wife and her present husband. There was no acrimony in their interaction. He just observed them, and later wrote the story.
A tea session was followed where audience interacted informally with the cast & crew. Kaushik signed autographs and posed for photos.
Pictures
1. The interactive session in progress. (From left to right) Kaushik Sen, Badsha Moitra, Swastika Mukherjee, Atanu Ghosh.
2. Swastika upped the glamour quotient of the event.
3. Kaushik Sen
4. The handsome Badsha Moitra.
5. (From left to right) Atanu Ghosh and Rajat Ganguly.
6. A thoroughly impressed Mamata Shankar in the interaction.
7. Indrani Halder in a conversation with Mamata Shankar.
8. Jeet and Swastika.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Two images
The first, a happy one, reminds us that Durga Puja is coming.
The second one, though another happy moment, signifies the end of Durga Puja.
Posted these two wonderful shots by Amitabha Gupta as Durga Puja countdown is on.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Durga Puja images 1
1. Golaghata puja pandal in 2006- made of shells.
2. Pathanpur puja pandal in 2006- made of jhuri and kulo (Both are Indian household items made of bamboo).
Anybody with a clue to the present state of Kolkata Puja is aware that the trend in Kolkata pujas (Here puja is each place of the ceremony, since the worship of goddess Durga is done in hundreds of places in the city) for the last few years is fabricating the pandal and the idol as per a theme (Eg. An ancient deity in a cave or an ancient Durga temple at some other part in India) and also making the pandal with some unique item (Eg. shell in one of the above pujas).
The city needs budget hotels
Just remembered to put down a recently felt need here- Kolkata badly needs budget hotels. Ginger, the Tata group budget-hotel chain should have debuted in the city, rather than in Durgapur.
A bunch of colleagues came over from Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi, and since all were first-timers to the city, I spent two nights sharing a room with one at Hotel Victerrace off Camac St. The less said about the service, the better. The room service was painfully slow. So much so that one of the colleagues got her breakfast served after more than half-an-hour and that led to everybody's getting late for the training programme they came over to attend to. Everything, from the state of wall paint to the cooling power of the AC to the bath towel to whatever, the experience for all of them and me was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Checked with the secretary at office, who did the booking, as to why a better hotel was not found. My guess proved right. While Kolkata has a good no. of luxury hotels (Hyatt Regency, ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton, Taj Bengal, Oberoi Grand and The Park are some), it has a strong need for budget hotels. The companies who don't really want to cut corners with hotel costs have little choice for all their employees travelling to Kolkata, whose entitlements don't include five-star comfort.
A bunch of colleagues came over from Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi, and since all were first-timers to the city, I spent two nights sharing a room with one at Hotel Victerrace off Camac St. The less said about the service, the better. The room service was painfully slow. So much so that one of the colleagues got her breakfast served after more than half-an-hour and that led to everybody's getting late for the training programme they came over to attend to. Everything, from the state of wall paint to the cooling power of the AC to the bath towel to whatever, the experience for all of them and me was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Checked with the secretary at office, who did the booking, as to why a better hotel was not found. My guess proved right. While Kolkata has a good no. of luxury hotels (Hyatt Regency, ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton, Taj Bengal, Oberoi Grand and The Park are some), it has a strong need for budget hotels. The companies who don't really want to cut corners with hotel costs have little choice for all their employees travelling to Kolkata, whose entitlements don't include five-star comfort.
A BTC invite
Above is the invite to Bangla Telefilm Club's fifth screening scheduled at 9 September, Sunday, 4.45 pm at Rotary Sadan. The telefilm is Megh Brishti Rodh by Atanu Ghosh, aired on Tara Muzik.
The show is only for members and guests. To become a member and watch a telefilm with its cast & crew (apart from other celebrities) and interact with them post show, call 9830274315 or 9831333720. Email: banglatelefilmclub@gmail.com. Website: www.banglatelefilmclub.org.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Early signs of Puja
The early signs of Puja (Durga Puja), Bengal's largest event of every year, are visible. Advertisements of special Puja numbers by local Bengali magazines, a special series on Star Ananda on the writers' views on what they've written in this year's Puja numbers, hoardings of Puja committes about this year's themes and seeking sponsorship, updates of Kumartuli, the hub of making idols for the Puja et al.
Found it a little difficult to stomach that the talented artists who make the fascinating idols make only 10-15% profit by selling their work in India, after months of toil and suffering due to weather playing spoilsport every now and then thereby making it unfairly challenging to deliver on time. They are more interested in selling to parties abroad who offer better prices.
The eminent Puja committes apparently earn huge through sponsorship and subscription, but are not ready to pay the idol artists who are behind the main attraction of visiting a Puja pandal- the idols. They take advantage of the poor artisans not being adept at negotiating and demanding a fair price of their work. They are apparently more open to pay the new-age Puja artists, having passed out of art college, who design and make the entire pandal besides the idol with their artistic expression that often challenge the tradition but win prizes for best idol, best pandal etc.
A funny notice
Came across a notice pasted at the cash deposit counter at the Baguiati branch of Axis Bank this morning.
It tells the customers of the bank that it (the bank) is committed to issue clean notes to its customers as per the new campaign by RBI to make more and more clean notes availeble with general public.
So far, so good, until I read the last line.
It said "...the Clean not policy of RBI..".
Not only the silly mistake, what indeed was hilarious was the irony created by the mistake.
It tells the customers of the bank that it (the bank) is committed to issue clean notes to its customers as per the new campaign by RBI to make more and more clean notes availeble with general public.
So far, so good, until I read the last line.
It said "...the Clean not policy of RBI..".
Not only the silly mistake, what indeed was hilarious was the irony created by the mistake.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
A middle-class solution
In an age when multiplex is the fashionable place to catch up a movie and among single screen theatres choices are painfully few, and most of the middle-class households watch a new movie at home either on pirated VCD or on cable (which runs a pirated VCD only), there seems to be a revolution brewing. Moser Baer, a well-known homegrown co. of removable storage media (CDs, CD-RW, DVD etc), has silently forayed into home-video with their jaw-dropping pricing in this year. Their VCDs of Indian films come at Rs 28 and DVDs at Rs 34, and they are claiming high quality standards and top-class packaging.
What makes these 'impossible' prices happen? Well, as they are saying, their proprietorty patented technology that besides producing world-class production standard, brings down the cost significantly. And they are passing on the entire benefit to the consumers by charging rock-bottom prices.
While the rent of a VCD is Rs 10, it makes great sense to rather buy it out paying just Rs 28 and watch it and show it to friends and guests at home over and over again. Not only the original VCD will score over the rented pirated VCD, it will also free us from the guilt of committing a crime (Of supporting piracy). Now everybody can build his/ her movie collection at home without thinking of cost.
To back up the pricing strategy the company is getting aggressive on distribution front, eyeing stationery shops and other unconventional outlets apart from video/ music stores and supermarkets. They are starting their exclusive stores- owned and licensed- as well that will sell the entire Moser Baer product range. The first one in Kolkata is at OP House at Ultadanga crossing.
The USP of their library of titles is a strong presence of regional movies. The company recently launched 75 Bengali movie titles in a glittering event in the city. They included Swapno by Haranath Chakraborty and Aamra by Mainak Bhaumik which came on home video for the first time. Superstar Prosenjit did the honours (Picture above shows Prosenjit unveiling the collection. (Picture source)
Upmarket solutions in products and services is definitely lucrative. But when comes a middle-class solution like the Moser Baer range of VCDs and DVDS, the business potential is huge, simply because consumers are measured in millions. The perfect example is Reliance Mobile- what they've done to mobile telephony in what short a period, simply because they targeted the entire middle class! Little wonder, the ambitious Moser Baer plans to sell a popular title in millions of units and not in lacs which is the present reality.
For a thorough look at their collection and ordering online, visit their site Moserbaerhomevideo.com.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Life in a shuttle 1
It is one Kolkata's favourite alternative transports, mainly for those coming and going to the fringes, especially an officegoer's favourite on way home. It gives one the joy, comfort and utility of travelling in a taxi at just a fractional fare or a car without owning one. And it is an unofficial means of travel.
It is shuttle car/ taxi, popularly known as shuttle. In short, a taxi running full, not on meter but on a fixed charge per passenger or a private car doing the same. There are professional shuttle cars too, whose business is running shuttle service on 'fixed routes'.
It thrives especially in the routes not taken up by regular transport options. And it can be a blessing for those who would otherwise had to take a break journey.
The route to the airport from central Kolkata is a 'hot' shuttle route. Car drivers going to airport to pick up a client's person make some extra income by taking some passengers and dropping them at various places till its destination. The operating rate is Rs 15 from Beckbagan (AJC Bose Rd island between Minto Park and Kalamandir) to airport, but you may be lucky if you happen to catch an 'amateur' car going to airport, who might charge you just Rs 10. All because its just some extra money for him, so no need to be insistent on 'operating rate'.
One is luckier when the driver of a modern/ snazzy car, like an Indica or Qualis or Chevrolet going to airport calls for passengers.
Other hot shuttle points (other than Beckbagan) known to me is Karunamoyee of Salt Lake and Beleghata junction on EM Bypass.
Shuttle is an important part of working life of many living on the fringes of Kolkata. More about it follows.
It is shuttle car/ taxi, popularly known as shuttle. In short, a taxi running full, not on meter but on a fixed charge per passenger or a private car doing the same. There are professional shuttle cars too, whose business is running shuttle service on 'fixed routes'.
It thrives especially in the routes not taken up by regular transport options. And it can be a blessing for those who would otherwise had to take a break journey.
The route to the airport from central Kolkata is a 'hot' shuttle route. Car drivers going to airport to pick up a client's person make some extra income by taking some passengers and dropping them at various places till its destination. The operating rate is Rs 15 from Beckbagan (AJC Bose Rd island between Minto Park and Kalamandir) to airport, but you may be lucky if you happen to catch an 'amateur' car going to airport, who might charge you just Rs 10. All because its just some extra money for him, so no need to be insistent on 'operating rate'.
One is luckier when the driver of a modern/ snazzy car, like an Indica or Qualis or Chevrolet going to airport calls for passengers.
Other hot shuttle points (other than Beckbagan) known to me is Karunamoyee of Salt Lake and Beleghata junction on EM Bypass.
Shuttle is an important part of working life of many living on the fringes of Kolkata. More about it follows.
Evolving with time
Single screen theatres in Kolkata are fighting for survival for years. Apart from threats like video piracy and satellite channels that make the viewers spoilt for choice, the newest threat is stiff competition from multiplex. The multiple-screen monsters have been gobbling up viewers of single-screeners ever since their debut. Among other smart business moves, the plexes have chosen areas where single screeners are not present.
But on the face of the competition a few standalone theatres have really evolved with time to take on the competition. Among them is Jaya located at Lake Town. It is a not a single-screener though. It did start with one screen in the 60s showing Uttam-Supriya starrer Jiban Mrityu and riding on the success added another screen at the adjacent plot post 70s. It helped that there was no other theatre in the close vicinity. It was just like anther single screener till some years back. But the way it has upgraded its facilities in recent years to become the neighbourhood multiplex is amazing.
Jaya now has Dolby DTS sound, airconditioning and most interestingly a plex-style box office. The staff at the glass-front box office are uniformed. Each one has a mike in front, books ticket electronically and prints it out. There is a monitor on each side showing current movies, show-timings, availability of seats and ticket prices. With the advantage of two halls it does multiplex-style smart movie programming showing as many as four films a day- a mix of Hindi and select Bengali films. Where it really counts is the surprisingly modest ticket prices- Mondays to Fridays it charges Rs 40 for stall and Rs 80 for dress circle, on Saturdays and Sundays DC goes up to Rs 100 and on Sunday stall becomes Rs 50, riding on the demand of weekend crowd. It calls itself a cineplex, and rightly so!
The locality has a large North Indian population whose outflow to the plexes have been effectively halted by Jaya's timely makeover. As one stands in front of the box office he finds the queue at par with any plex in look.
Hope Jaya keeps evolving. Wish it all the very best.
But on the face of the competition a few standalone theatres have really evolved with time to take on the competition. Among them is Jaya located at Lake Town. It is a not a single-screener though. It did start with one screen in the 60s showing Uttam-Supriya starrer Jiban Mrityu and riding on the success added another screen at the adjacent plot post 70s. It helped that there was no other theatre in the close vicinity. It was just like anther single screener till some years back. But the way it has upgraded its facilities in recent years to become the neighbourhood multiplex is amazing.
Jaya now has Dolby DTS sound, airconditioning and most interestingly a plex-style box office. The staff at the glass-front box office are uniformed. Each one has a mike in front, books ticket electronically and prints it out. There is a monitor on each side showing current movies, show-timings, availability of seats and ticket prices. With the advantage of two halls it does multiplex-style smart movie programming showing as many as four films a day- a mix of Hindi and select Bengali films. Where it really counts is the surprisingly modest ticket prices- Mondays to Fridays it charges Rs 40 for stall and Rs 80 for dress circle, on Saturdays and Sundays DC goes up to Rs 100 and on Sunday stall becomes Rs 50, riding on the demand of weekend crowd. It calls itself a cineplex, and rightly so!
The locality has a large North Indian population whose outflow to the plexes have been effectively halted by Jaya's timely makeover. As one stands in front of the box office he finds the queue at par with any plex in look.
Hope Jaya keeps evolving. Wish it all the very best.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
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!
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, July 20, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, June 29, 2007
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).
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