In a show of Bollywood camaraderie and the mingling of politicians and celebrities, the 20th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) — India’s second oldest movie festival — was inaugurated on November 10 at Netaji Indoor Stadium by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who raised a toast to cinema buffs in Bengali.
Draped in uttariyas (stoles) gifted by Banerjee, the Bachchan clan — Amitabh, his wife, veteran actress Jaya, son and actor Abhishek and actress and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai — set the evening on fire with their oomph, charisma and reiteration of their links to Bengal.
Strains of light classical music by percussionist Bickram Ghosh, classical music vocalist Rashid Khan and singer Usha Uthup set the tune for the magical evening as Bachchan and Khan hugged each other briefly and lit the ceremonial lamp with Banerjee and actress Raima Sen. Thunderous applause went up as Aishwarya and Jaya followed suit.
Indian filmmakers Amol Palekar and Shoojit Sircar graced the occasion with a host of Bengali film actors, including Tanuja and Moushumi Chatterjee.
Khan, the state’s brand ambassador, was greeted with loud cheers as he urged international delegates to try the variety of sweets from Bengal.
Dressed in gold and black, former beauty queen Aishwarya launched the official brochure while veteran actresses Tanuja and Jaya released a music CD of Bengali music.
Grandma’s wish
Jaya, in a sophisticated white-beige sari, said she was delighted to be there with the rest of the family and wished grand-daughter Aaradhya could join them one day on the same stage.
“It has become a family event for us,” she said.
Both Tanuja and Jaya acknowledged that the Bengali audience is “the best in the world” while a very sporting Aishwarya congratulated the orchestra on their rousing performance and thanked the chief minister in broken Bengali.
“Amader poribarer proti apnader ashirvad bhlaobashar jonyo onek onek dhonyobaad [thank you for the love and affection that you have showered on our family],” she said.
“Amitji, I am grateful to you and your family for gracing the occasion but don’t think it is enough that you have come here this year. You will have to come here every year along with your full family,” said Banerjee.
Banerjee also said she would visit the sets of Piku, a film Bachchan is shooting in the city.
Australian filmmaker Paul Cox is part of the jury that decides the winner of KIFF’s first competitive segment for best international woman director.
Festival favourite
Actor Irrfan Khan hoped the film festival “would inspire the new generation to find their own voice and engage a universal audience”.
“I think I should change my name to Dhhonyobad [thank you in Bengali],” said Irrfan, triggering delirious roars from the spectators when he uttered a few words in Bengali.
Khan fulfilled a promise made at last year’s opening gala to speak in Bengali.
Present for the fourth opening ceremony, the superstar said the event gets “bigger, better, flamboyant and more vibrant” each year.
After Khan’s stress on the role of Indian cinema in uniting people in a technology-driven world, Bachchan delivered a thought-provoking speech on the changing role of women in society, mirrored in cinema, citing the story of a woman denied education who won big on his TV gameshow Kaun Banega Crorepati. “As United Nations Ambassador for the Girl Child, for me, this subject then is very close to my heart.”
Banerjee said she wants to transform the regional film industry into a world-class facility and bring Hollywood, Bollywood and world cinema to Kolkata.
The festival will screen 137 films from 60 countries, with 40 international delegates and 15 segments. There will be 31 Indian films, including 13 Bengali films. It concludes on November 17.
