Avijatrik bags Best Bengali Film at the 68th National Film Awards

Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu) continues to receive accolades and huge appreciation locally & globally. Since 2020-21, despite the pandemic, the film has travelled far & wide globally and won 44 nominations in reputed Film Festivals and 28 awards and recognitions so far. It received two Awards at the 68th National Film Awards, as announced on 22nd July, 2022 by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. It is the winner, 2020 for:
1. Best Bengali Film - Produced by Gaurang Films Co- Presented by Bhandarkar Entertainment & NCKS Explorations.
2. Best Cinematography- Supratim Bhol

Speaking about the 68th NFA awards, Producer Gaurang Jalan said, “This is the most awaited award for any film and am glad that team Avijatrik got it. I want to thank the I&B Minsitry, DFF, learned jury, the audiences and media for supporting and encouraging us all the way. This is the second National Award for Gaurang Films, first being for Safed Haathi,45 years ago.”.

Co-producer and four-times National Award winner himself, Madhur Bhandarkar added,“We are delighted of our association with Gaurang Films and the overall outcome of our first Bengali film project”.

Director Subhrajit Mitra said, “I'm overwhelmed by the appreciation for this movie. I'm grateful to Gaurang Jalan, Madhur Bhandarkar and late Dr Sumit Agarwal for helping me materialising my decade long dream. Finally after six long decades, Apu has come home.”

Earlier in July 2022, the film also received award for Best Director (Critics choice) from NABC 2022 at a glittering ceremony at Las Vegas, USA.

In March 2022, it received nine nominations and 3 Filmfare Awards (East) for:
• Best Actor- Arjun Chakravarthy
• Best Cinematography- Supratim Bhol
• Best Background Score: Pt Bickram Ghosh
Earlier, it received five awards from the West Bengal Film Journalist Association in February,2022 out of its 9 nominations for:

1. Winner- most promising Director- Subhrajit Mitra
2. Winner- best Background score- Bickram Ghosh
3. Winner- best Sound design- Tirthankar Majumdar
4. Winner- best Costume design- Agnimitra Paul
5. Winner- best Cinematography- Supratim Bhol

It also received the best film Special Jury Award,2020, for Asian Cinema Competition, at 13th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES), by the Governor of Karnataka, at an official ceremony on 10th March 2022 in Bengaluru. Avijatrik premiered at the 26th KIFF, Kolkata (official competition), 51st IFFI, Goa (in Panorama), Shanghai (in International Panorama competition), London (LIFF), Miami(MIFF), Montreal, Boston, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin, & Seattle – to name a few. The film was selected in the Kaleidoscope section of the prestigious 26th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) from 18-25th March,2022.

The soulful music of Avijatrik has been acquired by Warner Music Group, India, and, it is their first Bengali acquisition which is available on all major music platforms. Music of this film is by internationally acclaimed exponent of Indian classical genre Pt. Bickram Ghosh and the title track is a variation by Anoushka Shankar of her father Pt. Ravi Shankar's iconic Pather Panchali theme.

The trailer of Avijatrik is also creating waves and has nearly 800,000 views so far.

https://youtu.be/O5CZgJ1lm5k


Avijatrik is a unique film with a rich legacy. With ‘Avijatrik’ (The Wanderlust of Apu) – the enduring and endearing character of ‘Apu’ returned to silver screen after six decades! It is the sequel to the classic “Apu Trilogy”, directed by Satyajit Ray and background score by Pt Ravi Shankar. The plot takes off from where “The Apu Trilogy” had ended in 1959 with “Apur Sansar”. The story revolves around a sublime bond between a father (Apu) and his 6-year-old son (Kajol). Avijatrik has an ensemble of experienced cast & crew and was shot at 68 locations to retain the rich aesthetic flavor that compliments its backdrop of 1940’s India. It stars Arjun Chakrabarty (as Apu), Ditipriya Roy, Arpita Chatterjee,Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Master Ayushmaan Mukherjee, Sreelekha Mitra, Biswanath Basu, Tanushree Shankar, Barun Chanda and Sohag Sen in key roles. Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu) released on 3rd December 2021 in cinemas across West Bengal and on 10th December, 2021 all over India in selected cities. It also celebrated glorious 50 days in Bengal and would be released again soon for those who missed it during pandemic