Tribute to one of India's most prolific filmmakers

The late Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh’s untimely demise recently, created a void in Indian cinema. In a tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most prolific directors, the India Habitat Centre is screening his select works for a week.

The films include Unishe April, for which Ghosh had won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Feature Film in 1995. The film casts Aparna Sen, Debashree Roy in the lead roles. Revolving around a mother-daughter duo, Aditi (Debashree Roy) who comes to visit her mother Sarojini (played by Aparna Sen), the film poignantly captures the affection and the divide between the two.

Aditi who lost her father at a very young age and has spent most of her childhood in a boarding school, feels distanced from her mother.

While Aditi is still trying to come to grips with the loss of her father as his death anniversary draws near, Sarojini fails to notice her child’s depression and anxiety, caught up as she is, in the fuss revolving around a big award that is about to be conferred on her as a dancer.

Metrolife caught up with Monica Chattopadhyay, one of the organisers of Remembering Rituparno. She is extremely happy that they have been able to put together a substantial number of screenings so quickly.

“After Satyajit Ray, Rituparno Ghosh is believed to be the most prolific Bengali director. He is without doubt, a very renowned figure in the world of cinema,” says
Monica.

The fans who plan to catch up on their favourite director’s works are a delighted lot. “I have already seen Unishe April some five years back. Today, I came to watch it again. This is Rituparno’s first national award movie. What I had watched five years back and what I watch today makes a lot of difference to me (since the perspective has changed),” says Swati Sur.

“I have seen almost all his movies, including the ones that are being screened now. But I want to come and watch them all again.” says Swati. “If there is one person, who has significantly contributed to reviving Bengali cinema, then it is Rituparno Ghosh,” says Nitish Sengupta, the famous author of the book, Bengal
Divided.

A recipient of 12 national Awards and several awards at international film festivals, Rituparno Ghosh passed away in his sleep. He was just 49. His first movie was a children’s feature titled Hirer Angti (The Diamond Ring) but this is not part of the tribute here. The films include, Shubho Muhurat on 4 July, Chokher Bali on 5 July, Shob Choritro Kaalponik on 8 July, Aabohoman on 9 July, Memories in March on 10 July and Chitrangada on 17 July.