Weekend roundup: Bengali celebs and films which made headlines this week

With the news of Anirban Bhattacharya playing a dacoit in ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’, Dev-Paoli Dam’s ‘Sanjhbati’ shooting updates, the huge impact of Nandita-Shiboprosad’s latest release ‘Konttho’, the Bengali film industry enjoyed quite some action this week. If you have missed the exciting news, gossips or latest developments that have rocked Tollywood, here is a quick look at the weekly roundup for you. Scroll down to have a look at the Bengali movies and stars who made headlines this week.

"I have to do almost 300 laryngectomy surgery every year, but never ever thought, such a film can be made on it," that’s what Dr. Pankaj Charturvedi, the deputy director of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, says showering praise on Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s latest film ‘Konttho’.

Doctor Sourav Dutta, meanwhile, is ready to take a revolutionary initiative after seeing the film inspiring and encouraging his patients in a positive way. Dr. Dutta has decided to start a laryngectomy club where the patients of laryngectomy and their family will be able to interact with each other creating appositive vibe all around. What’s more interesting is the club will be called ‘Konttho’!

On the other hand, Bibhuti Chakraborty, on whose life the film is based on, will have his dream fulfilled now, believes Nandita Roy. Konttho starring Shiboprosad Mukherjee himself, Jaya Ahsan, and Paoli Dam in the lead is running successfully at the theatres.

Leena Gangopadhyay and Saibal Banerjee are all set for their next project, a multistarrer titled ‘Sanjhbati’. Produced by Atanu Roy Choudhury, the upcoming family drama has already grabbed eyes for its stellar casting. The most interesting part is this is the first time Dev will share screen space with living legend Soumitra Chatterjee. The ensemble cast also includes Paoli Dam and Arpita Chatterjee as the female leads.

‘Sanjhbati’ will go on the floors mid-June as the makers want to give Dev some time to prepare for his character. The Loksabha elections had kept the Tollywood star quite busy, that’s why only recently he got the chance to read the complete script. It will be interesting to see Dev playing such a realistic, down to earth character which the directors assure will surprise the audience.

Soumitra Chatterjee who had the chance to work with Satyajit Ray in 14 of his films believes the auteur didn’t like the concept of parallel and mainstream cinema and he never thought about any definite line between the two. Incidentally, Soumitra made his debut in Ray’s ‘Apur Sansar’ in 1959. During a recent media interaction Soumitra recalled, Ray used to say there could be only good and bad films: “He never liked the idea of categorising a film. It’s the output that matters and whether the film was welcomed by the audience.” Soumitra whose repertoire is filled with so many arthouse and commercial cinema, especially the Satyajit Ray classics, also believes the distinction between these two gharana has become baseless these days.

Birsa Dasgupta’s upcoming rom-com ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’ staring Ankush, Rudranil Ghosh, Nusraat Faria, Sohini Sarkar, Priyanka Sarkar and Anirban Bhattacharya chronicles around three married couples adjusting to the changes in their lives. Ever since the film was announced it grabbed the headlines and now to double your excitement here’s the official poster of ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’. The dacoit avatar of Ankush, Rudranil and Anirban and the crazy looks of Priyanka, Nusraat and Sohini promises to give a fun-filled joy ride. Popular actor Ambarish Bhattacharya will be seen in a comic role of a police commissioner. The multistarrer rom-com, produced by SVF, will hit the theatres on June 21.

Recently Kankana Chakraborty’s much talked about short film ‘Anurup’ (Mirror Image) had a special screening in the august presence of director Kankana Chakraborty, actors Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Mithu Chakrabarty, Sagardweep Deb and others. However, the main attraction of the guest list was Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni.

Atul came to Kolkata after a long time and the versatile actor was full of praise for the director and he also recalled the good old days when Kankana used to meet her as an actress. “Kankana narrated me stories so wonderfully that I asked her to pursue direction as she was a wonderful story teller. We do not have so many great story tellers in the industry. I am glad she pursued direction and has been making wonderful short films” said the noted actor.

‘Anurup’ beautifully narrates the story of a father and daughter who have been estranged for six long years. However, they are now poised to meet each other. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

Ram Kamal Mukherjee is ready to direct his fourth short length Hindi feature ‘Broken Frame’ based on his best seller fiction ‘Long Island Iced Tea’. After receiving critical acclaims for his earlier short film ‘Cakewalk’, the author turned filmmaker will be adapting the first short story from a collection of eight short stories published in 2017. "It's one of the most popular story from the book and I received massive response from the film fraternity. I wanted to adapt the book into web series with a leading production house but unfortunately it didn't work out," said Ram Kamal Mukherjee.

The story of ‘Broken Frame’ revolves around the life of a couple, happily married for years. But on the night of their wedding anniversary something happens that changes the course of their life forever.

The Lok Sabha Election verdict is finally out. While the whole India witnessed BJP's landslide victory, West Bengal too saw our Tollywood celebrities taking over the election. Six celebrity turned politicians won big at their respective constituencies among all the star candidates who contested the Loksabha election for TMC and BJP. While TMC candidate Dev emerged victorious second time from Ghatal constituency, BJP candidate Babul Supriyo returned as MP from Asansol for the second time as he beat TMC candidate veteran actress Moon Moon Sen. Two newbie TMC candidates Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan also won from Jadavpur and Basirhat respectively.

Anirban Bhattacharya’s latest appearance as a hot-headed police officer Bijoy Poddar in Srijit Mukherji’s recent release ‘Vinci Da’ has earned him accolades from all corners. And now the versatile actor is looking forward to his upcoming projects among which Birsa Dasgupta’s next ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’ is an interesting one and Anirban is confidant his new look in the film will stun the audience.

“This is the first time I will be a part of a rural commercial movie. ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’ revolves around three couples, and I am one of them. Priyanka Sarkar will be seen opposite me. I love to call myself Bullet Singh since I often imagine myself as a dacoit. Frankly speaking I have never played such a role earlier, and I can assure the audience will be in splits after watching this film,” said Anirban.