Will Mumbai’s loss be Kolkata’s gain?

KOLKATA: Can Mumbai’s loss be Kolkata’s gain? After a film festival in Mumbai yanked off Pakistani film “Jago Hua Savera” (The Day Shall Dawn) starring Tripti Mitra, requests have been made to the authorities of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) to screen the film in Kolkata. Organisers of the 18th Mumbai Film Festival MAMI were forced to pull out the Pakistani film from its roster after an NGO had filed a police complaint on Saturday against the festival organizers.
The reason for wanting to screen the film directed by AJ Kardar at KIFF is primarily because of the movie’s strong Bengal connect.The film was based on the novel penned by Manik Bandopadhyay and its music was scored by Timir Baran. Interestingly enough, this year’s chairperson of KIFF – Goutam Ghose – had also adapted the same novel to make his Indo-Bangladesh co-production titled “Padma Nadir Majhi” that had Roopa Ganguly in the lead.
However, the Mumbai film festival couldn’t screen the film because of the hostilities at the Indo-Pak border and the debate around Pakistani artistes. “Given the current situation, the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star has decided not to programme Jago Hua Savera as part of the Restored Classics Section,” said the official statement from MAMI.
Ranjani Sarkar, the granddaughter of Timir Baran, has requested KIFF chairperson to try and include the screening of this film in the festival. “A restored version of the film was shown at Cannes this year. When I heard that the Mumbai festival had cancelled the screening, I requested KIFF to screen it here. In 2011, the ministry of culture had given me a grant to host a programme to revive the Timir Baran Symphony Orchestra and to celebrate his birth centenary. Goutam-da had attended that programme too,” Sarkar recounted. This week, Sarkar spoke to Ghose on getting this film. “We spoke about dadu’s music in this movie. He told me that he would look into it,” Sarkar said.
Ghose told TOI that the final call will be taken soon. “There are some technical details that need to be sorted out. Besides, one also has to find out if the film is available. We will take a final call on October 26,” Ghose said.
Besides the personal connect, Sarkar also believes the screening, if allowed, will only help in improving Bengal’s image. “Last year when trouble broke out regarding cancellation of Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai, Bengal had risen to the occasion. If this screening happens, Kolkata will again show the way to Mumbai,” she said.