Centenary tribute: Marlon Brando's legacy celebrated at Kolkata Film Festival

Kolkata paid a tribute to Marlon Brando on his centenary by screening two of his most iconic films, The Godfather (directed by Francis Ford Coppola) and Viva Zapata! (helmed by Elia Kazan), as part of the Kolkata International Film Festival. The legendary actor, renowned for his transformative performances, drew a house-full crowd to Nandan 1, even at the early hour of 9am for The Godfather.

Fans, clad in Al Pacino t-shirts and The Godfather hoodies, created an electrifying atmosphere. Cheers erupted and applause filled the hall during the film’s iconic moments, particularly when Brando’s unforgettable dialogue, “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” resonated through the theatre. The three-hour screening of The Godfather, often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, held the audience spellbound.

However, the extended runtime did cause scheduling delays for subsequent films, a hiccup that left a few festival-goers grumbling. Despite this, the overwhelming response proved Brando’s enduring influence on cinema and his place in the hearts of movie lovers. The screening marked a rare opportunity for Kolkata’s cinephiles to witness Brando’s unparalleled artistry on the big screen, rekindling the magic of classic Hollywood and celebrating a century of an actor who forever changed the craft.