A still from ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’
The visiting artistes are privately weighing whether to travel to Kolkata amid a recent govt advisory making verified advance hotel bookings mandatory and an ongoing citywide crackdown on lodging establishments. Two films — Nurul Alam Atique’s ‘Manusher Bagan’ (’People of the Garden’) and Piplu R Khan’s ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’ — are going to be screened as part of the festival. Kolkata: As World Film Festival gets ready to open at Nandan on Tuesday with the screening of two Bangladeshi films, uncertainty looms over the travel plans of their cast and crew, who are expected to arrive only on the closing day.
Premendra Mazumder, vice-president of Federation of Film Societies of India — organising 5th World Film Festival — expressed astonishment over a travel advisory issued by Bangladesh deputy high commission following the fatal Aug 19 hotel fire on Free School Street that claimed nine lives. I’ll be in Kolkata from 12 till 14. ” Atique said he has recently returned to Dhaka from Chennai and cannot travel to Kolkata again due to some medical reasons.
Calling the directive “rather surprising”, Mazumder noted that “a fire is an accident and it can happen in any city in the world”. Delegates from Bangladesh have been attending our festival and earlier didn’t need to be advised on such matters,” Mazumder said. We are now hoping that delegates from Bangladesh will follow the protocol and attend our festival,” he said. “The final status of their visit remains uncertain,” Atique said. At the same time, similar accidents happen in many countries, so such advisories should be seen in a broader context rather than through a political lens. ” Khan told TOI that he is “busy with some work” and won’t be able to attend the festival in Kolkata. Debojyoti Mishra, my music director, will be there to present the film,” Khan said. Cinematographer Joaher Musavvir said, “I’m taking the bus and have booked my stay at Chowdhury’s estate guest house.
“No other nation felt the need to issue a similar warning. “From FSSI, names of hotels near Nandan have been forwarded to all delegates. Delegates always book their accommodation before accepting our invitation to present their films. Regarding the recent travel advisory, he noted, “Bangladesh and India have a long shared history. It is sad that our govt had to issue such a directive. Stories of uncertainty surrounding hotel accommodations in India are unnerving. Atique shared that his producers are attempting to secure visas and lodging in Kolkata. Actor Deepanwita Roy Martin from the film too isn’t travelling to Kolkata since her visa expired while she was shooting in Sikkim this month. “If Bangladesh govt advises its citizens to take precautions, such as confirming accommodation and access to nearby hospitals, I see that as a responsible step. “This is the first time this film will be screened in India. My cinematographer is going.