26th KIFF will have a special focus on Soumitra Chatterjee

Soumitra Chatterjee will be given a tribute with a retrospective at the 26th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) along with an exhibition on the multifaceted actor.

Preparations have begun in full swing with plans for showcasing not just rare photos of the legend’s film career but his other interests as well. Also on display will be his paintings and costumes that he wore on stage.

Owing to the ongoing pandemic, KIFF has been shifted from November 5-12 to January 8-15. This decision was taken on October 29. At that time, the veteran actor was hospitalized due to Covid-19. Chatterjee passed away on November 15.

Raj Chakrabarty, who was the chairman of the 25th edition of KIFF, said, “We have had talks about hosting a retrospective of his films at Sisir Mancha. A photographic exhibition of his works has also been planned.”

The exhibition will be held at the Nandan foyer and will primarily showcase his different facets, including his early life, films, theatre, poetry and art.

Director Sudeshna Roy, who is helping the state government’s department of information & cultural affairs that is hosting this exhibition, said the cinema section has been divided into two sections. “One will be about his films with Satyajit Ray. The other will be devoted to his landmark movies with other important directors from the past to the contemporary period. We are not trying to evaluate his film career but just putting together his body of work,” said Roy. She, however, doesn’t want to divulge the names of which contemporary films will be included in the exhibition.

The format will be primarily pictorial with caption stories under each subhead. In the poetry section, Joy Goswami and Soumitra’s son, Sougata, have been asked to write about his poetry. Jogen Chowdhury and Subhaprasanna will write on his art. Actor-director Parambrata Chattopadhyay is writing a piece on him for the KIFF brochure.

The legend’s daughter, Poulami Bose, is also “helping” to organize the exhibition and extending technical support. On December 5, her theatre group had organized a programme called ‘Naamjibon’ at Rabindra Sadan where some of his costumes worn on stage were on display. “I have been told that six costumes from there will be displayed at the KIFF exhibition. The throne and crown used in his ‘Raja Lear’ will be on display too. I have also been asked to write a 500-word copy on theatre,” Bose said.

As far as the retrospective is concerned, sources say that names like ‘Charulata’, ‘Apur Sansar’, ‘Atanka’, ‘Koni’, and ‘Belaseshe’ have come up.