Protesting With Vengeance, News - City - Kolkata Mirror,Kolkata Mirror

By Charles Nandi

Posted On Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 07:53:00 PM

Kolkata: Aggrieved by the decision of the Kolkata Film Festival (KFF) authorities not to screen any film of Uttam Kumar and late director Tapan Sinha, Shilpi Sansad, a forum of eminent Tollywood actors, is boycotting the festival this time.

Neither Uttam Kumar nor Tapan Sinha’s films are being screened at this year’s Kolkata Film Festival

The 15th KFF, which was inaugurated by film director Mani Ratnam, kicked off from November 10.

Shilpi Sansad secretary Sadhan Bagchi said that they have decided to boycott the film festival to protest against the ‘politically-biased decision’ of the film festival authorities. “The protest supported by the eminent actors and actresses of Tollywood is being led by Supriya Devi,” he added.

Actors and actresses who have joined this boycott include Aparna Sen, Debasree Roy, Tapas Pal, Shatabdi Roy, Shakuntala Barua, theatre personalities like Ratna Ghosal, Satinath Mukhopadhaya and others.

“Film festival authorities have decided not to screen the films of Uttam Kumar and eminent director Tapan Sinha, who passed away this year. This was decided due to political reasons,” said Bagchi. “The CPM-led think tank of the festival committee wants to be oiled. Neither Uttam Kumar nor Tapan Sinha ever thought of buttering any political party. They only concentrated on creative works and entertained the audience,” he added.

Supriya Devi also echoed the same feeling stating that Kumar was not given proper respect by the CPM-ruled government. “People still watch his films. They should have shown his films in the festival. The decision was purely political.”

The protest is being led by Supriya Devi

Shatabdi Roy, actress-turned Trinamool Congress MP, said that she has decided not to go to the festival as a protest. “Uttam Kumar was not given due respect. Late Tapan Sinha has also been ignored by the authorities and the state government. The CPM did not do anything for him as the late director was introvert by nature,” she added.

''Tollywood is mainly known in the world for a legend like Uttam Kumar. It is embarrassing that none of his or Tapan Sinha's movies will be screened as the panel of judges feel contemporary films will attract more audience,'' said Ratna Ghosal, theatre personality.

Nearly 230 films from 55 countries are being screened at the festival. The festival, which will continue till November 17, is organised by the state’s information and cultural affairs department.

The film festival also witnessed another political controversy during inauguration when eminent film director Mrinal Sen took a dig at the organisers for not allowing him to sit on the podium. He was given a seat in the front row among the audience. Sen participated in the march against the Nandigram killings two years ago.

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