Kolkata: Two documentary films, ‘Bhabatosher Karkhana' and ‘Hridaypur', based on Kolkata's Durga Puja and its theme artists, premiered at the ongoing 30th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
A new trend has emerged over the last few years where some top-level theme artists have been working on the archival process of their Durga Puja works as future references through book projects and multimedia productions. The two documentary films that were screened at the KIFF are a new addition to this trend. The 63-minute documentary film on Bhabatosh Sutar, a renowned Durga Puja artist and curator that was screened at Sisir Mancha on Sunday, received a huge response from the audience.
Dipanjan Chowdhury, an independent filmmaker, documents the life and transformation of Sutar. "Bhabatosh is one of the star artists of Kolkata's Durga Puja. Every year, he creates colossal immersive installations from basic and vernacular materials that engage millions of eyes," said Chowdhury.
The film portrays the 51-year-old artist's cross-border settlement to Kolkata, followed by an acute financial crisis during his early childhood days and his orphanage life. Sutar's role as a father of a specially-abled son, his positive approach even after struggling with a life-threatening disease since 2017, and finally playing a key role in transforming the Durga Puja by redefining the form of public art have also been narrated beautifully.
"I never thought of a film on me. Rather, I requested Dipanjan to document my Durga Puja art installations," said Sutar.
‘Hridaypur' (Heartland: Montage of Memories) is based on popular puja artist Pradip Das and the way he crafts art installations at Naktala Udayan Sangha. Das, who is also a director, said, "I try to explore untold stories of homeless people and their struggles, nostalgia and emotions." "This is a part of a long-term community project we have filmed since 2022 at Naktala and the surroundings," said Abhirup Halder, who is a joint director and cinematographer of the 23-minute documentary. The film was screened on Saturday at Sisir Mancha. It will again be screened on Monday at Nandan III.
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