The 24th Kolkata International Film Festival got off to a starry start with Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Waheeda Rehman on the stage and ofcourse, alongwith the host, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee.
But a numerous photos of Mamata Banerjee at the Nodal venue of the festival, the popular government run-Nandan Auditorium Complex, sparked a debate, specially after a filmmaker was publicly critical of the “showy” display at the panel discussion at the venue itself.
Mamata banerjee has written poems and painted pictures but she hasn’t made a film yet.
However, this nodal venue of Kolkata Film Festival is plastered with her portraits.
And without thinking much, filmmaker Anik Dutta said, “When I walked in through the gates of Nandan, I saw this view of the Nandan logo…big flexes with someone’s face “whoever it is”, a political leader, who is not related to films.”
“For the panel discussion, I just added my view in a humorous way,” added Dutta.
No one in the government has reacted but on social media the filmmaker has been hit with bouquets and big pats.
Someone on the social media sarcastically called him a “one film wander” as only one of his film ‘Bhooter Bhabishyat’ has been a hit.
Others have accused him of being a columnist while most messages were congratulatory and mocking the government.
– Harleen Sandhu
