Latest news with #Bengali
India Today
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Prosenjit Chatterjee on Sitaare Zameen Par's cinema-only move: Aamir can take risk
Aamir Khan's much-anticipated 'Sitaare Zameen Par' released in theatres on June 20. In a historic move, the superstar has decided to go cinema-only, ditching the OTT release altogether. His move has received mixed reviews from the industry, and actor Prosenjit Chatterjee admitted that such kind of changes are an exclusive chat with Chatterjee weighed in on Aamir Khan's decision. While he admitted that the need is required, he also mentioned how Khan's experience enables him to take such about Aamir Khan's 'only cinema' approach, Chatterjee said, "He can take the risk. He has been serving the industry for many years, and he understands the pulse and sensibilities of the audiences." The Jubilee actor added that while this won't halt the process, someone needed to take a step to initiate a change. Although he added that there's no good or bad to this method."I remember long back when content would be sold to CD companies, and it paid producers handsomely. However, after a year or two, I realised that the CDs were already in the market in a few days, and the theatre business was getting affected. So I called up all the producers for a meeting and we jointly decided that while the rights would be sold off, we need to have a gap of a good 9-12 weeks. All producers came together, and things changed to a certain level," the Bengali actor added that he saw the same trend when it came to films' television premieres. "In three or four weeks, they would start playing Bengali and even Hindi films on television. So, we stopped that and said let's give it after eight weeks. To save the theatrical business and cinema, he (Aamir Khan) is a person who can think this way or take this kind of risk. Nothing will change, a film will come on OTT and then on satellite television. That's how it works, that's how we reach our Indian audiences. But let's see how this goes (Sitaare Zameen Par's only-cinema model), and I hope it works."Marking Aamir Khan's return to the big screen after a three-year hiatus, 'Sitaare Zameen Par' has opened to a positive response from critics and fans alike. Also starring Genelia Deshmukh, the RS Prasanna is touted as the spiritual sequel of 'Taare Zameen Par'.Meanwhile, on June 19, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan also joined Aamir at the premiere and were seen warmly interacting with the film's young supporting cast, or 'sitaare', as they are lovingly referred to Watch
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Golden age star, who worked with Sanjeev Kumar, Uttam Kumar, didn't appear in public for 36 years on a holy man's suggestion; rejected Raj Kapoor's ‘personality'
Hollywood actor Great Garbo was one of the biggest stars of the silent films in the 1920s and 1930s. But once she left the movies, she retired from public life and turned into a recluse. No one knew why and people often wondered what prompted a star of her stature to live a lonely life, despite having many fans around the world. Closer home, actor Suchitra Sen went through something similar when she decided to lead a secluded life in the city of Kolkata, where she was widely known and loved. In her heyday, Suchitra was known as Paro from Dilip Kumar-starrer Devdas, the protagonist of Gulzar's Aandhi (who was compared to former PM Indira Gandhi), and her on-screen camaraderie with Uttam Kumar was often compared to the chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Suchita primarily worked in Bengali films but she reached a wider audience when she appeared in Hindi films, although she only appeared in a handful of them. But, after her last release in 1978, Pranay Pasha, Suchitra took a retirement from public appearances fully. Many have wondered why she chose to live as a recluse and while some suggest that she never wanted anyone to see her grow old, some have also theorised that there was a deep sadness within her that she did not wish to share with the world. Suchitra was one of the highest paid female actors of her time but as per author Gopal Krishna Roy, who wrote four books on her life, she turned her back on living in a regular society after a holy man told her to do so. Roy shared, in a 2014 chat with NDTV, that after Pranay Pasha flopped, Suchitra was deeply upset about it and headed to Ramakrishna Mission's headquarters near Kolkata. She met a holy man named Bharat Maharaj there and wept for hours. 'I later heard she sat at his feet and wept and wept,' he said and added, 'And Bharat Maharaj told her, 'Ma, ghridho, lobh koro na, don't be greedy. And that, I think, Mrs Sen translated into her own life by becoming a recluse.' Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta, who was an admirer of the actor, told Mint in 2014 that Suchitra, perhaps, wanted to 'remain beautiful for her fans.' 'Maybe, she wanted to remain beautiful for her fans and I see a likeness to Greta Garbo. What surprises me is that she didn't react to anything that happened around the world. Had Satyajit Ray got her to act in his proposed film Debi Chaudhurani maybe we would have seen a different Suchitra Sen, more so because Ray had the ability to get the best acting out of his characters. Maybe she wanted to remain a matinee idol. She did strong, women-centric roles and directors would shape the characters like that. But to be a great actor, you have to come out of that,' he said. ALSO READ | Bollywood star who worked with Rishi Kapoor, Shabana Azmi was arrested for trying to enter an ashram, has been missing for 20 years despite Rishi trying to find him Suchitra was one of the few actors who was offered the chance to work with Ray, and chose not to take it and she did something similar with Raj Kapoor as well. With Ray, when he offered her Debi Chaudhurani, she couldn't commit because he wanted to block a bunch of her dates. She couldn't do that as it would hamper her schedule and the other commitments she had made. Unfortunately, they never got a chance to work together again. In the case of Raj Kapoor, she refused to work with him because she 'did not like his personality.' In a conversation with Amitabh Choudhury for his book Aamar Bondhu Suchitra Sen, she shared that she refused Raj's offer 'almost immediately.' 'In men, I don't look for beauty. I look for intelligence and sharp conversations. I had refused Raj Kapoor's offer almost immediately. He came to my residence offering a lead role and, as I took my seat, he suddenly sat near my foot and offered me a bouquet of roses while offering the role. I rejected the offer. I did not like his personality. The way he behaved – sitting near my foot – did not befit a man,' she said. Suchitra was already married to Dibanath Sen when she was offered her first film. In fact, the offer came via her father-in-law Adinath Sen. But, in 1963, Suchitra and her husband separated, and in 1970, he died during a trip to the US. Their daughter, Moon Moon Sen, was 16 at the time, and Suchitra insisted that Dibanath's remains be brought to Kolkata, so Moon Moon could bid adieu to her late father. After she started living a solitary life in 1978, Suchitra was hardly seen out and about in Kolkata. But, in 1980, when her long-time co-actor and friend Uttam Kumar died, she came out to pay her last respects. Apart from that, she would sometimes be spotted by locals in markets, or on the roads but she would always be careful about walking with a scarf around her face, so no one would recognise her. Such was her resolve about not being in public that when she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, she chose not to attend the ceremony. But, despite living a lonely life, her sense of humour never went away. Gopal Krishna Roy, who spent a lot of time with her after she moved away from films, recalled a hilarious anecdote in the same chat with NDTV in 2014. He accompanied her to a gynaecologist's office and after the visit, she confided in him about her conversation with the doctor. He recalled with a laugh, 'Mrs Sen took young Moon Moon on her lap and said, 'Gopal do you know what the doctor told me? The doctor told me I am still… and then she paused. So I said anxiously, what? What? Mrs Sen laughed and said… the doctor said I am still a virgin.' Suchitra left the world the same way she had lived in it for the past 36 years. When she died in 2014 at 82, there was a sea of people on the streets of Kolkata who wanted to catch her last glimpse. But, Suchitra was guarded within a coffin. It was almost like she had made that choice when she was hail and hearty. Nevertheless, her life post-1978 remained a mystery to everyone who knew her as a movie star and the way she detached herself from all the fame, was a constant source of speculation.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
West Bengal statehood day celebrated in Arunachal Raj Bhavan
Itanagar, In the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', the West Bengal Statehood Day was celebrated with enthusiasm at the Raj Bhavan here on Friday, bringing together members of the Bengali and Gorkha communities of Arunachal Pradesh to honour the rich cultural legacy of the eastern state. According to an official statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, the event served as a platform to showcase the traditions, music, and dances of West Bengal while fostering unity through cultural exchange. Taking part in the celebrations, Governor KT Parnaik congratulated the people of West Bengal and thanked them for their contributions to the development and progress of Arunachal Pradesh. He said their dedication and cultural vibrancy have enriched the state's social fabric. Parnaik also acknowledged the pioneering efforts of institutions like the Ramakrishna Mission, along with the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas in strengthening the education system of Arunachal Pradesh, adding that the Ramakrishna Mission represents the shared values that bind the people of both states. Highlighting the importance of cultural exchange, the governor remarked that such celebrations provide young students of Arunachal Pradesh a valuable opportunity to learn about the diverse cultures of India. "When children are exposed to traditions, music, and values of other states, they grow up with greater empathy, understanding, and respect for our nation's unity in diversity," he said. The event was marked by cultural presentations by students from Nrityangan Dance and Music Academy, Itanagar, a Gorkhali dance by Lhamu Dolma Tamang and others, and local folk dance by students of PM SHRI Arunodaya School, Itanagar, traditional Bengali duet folk dance by Techi Ajum of VKV, Itanagar and Tarh Dai of KV, Itanagar. As a part of the event, the message of West Bengal governor Dr CV Ananda Bose was read out. Later, the governor hosted high tea for the participants and interacted with the members of the Bengali and Gorkha communities, praising their efforts to preserve and promote their cultural heritage in their adopted home.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
9 dead in car-truck collision on NH-18; victims were headed to Jharkhand from Bengal's Purulia
Nine people died in a head-on collision on National Highway 18 in West Bengal's Purulia district on Friday morning. The accident, near Namsol Primary School in the Balarampur police station area, involved a car carrying nine passengers and a truck which was reportedly being driven at a high speed. 'We have registered a case of rash driving. The truck driver fled from the spot. We are trying to trace him,' DSP (Headquarters) Nirmal Das told The Indian Express. According to officials, a Bolero car was traveling from Purulia to Jharkhand when it was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction. The impact completely wrecked the car, and both vehicles reportedly overturned. All nine occupants of the Bolero were rushed to the nearest health centre, where doctors pronounced them dead. The police have taken the truck into custody and have launched an investigation. Eight of the deceased have been identified as Biru Mahato, Ajay Mahato, Vijay Mahato, Swapan Mahato, Gurupad Mahato, Shashank Mahato, Chitta Mahato, Krishna Mahato, all residents of Tilai Tand village in Lakadi under Neemdih police station. The ninth victim, Chandramohan Mahato, was a resident of Raghunathpur, also under Neemdih police station. Sources said they were returning home to Jharkhand after attending a wedding ceremony in Purulia. The accident follows another road accident a day ago in Howrah district. 'Three persons died and several people were injured. A private bus, operating on the Bagnan-Shyambazar route, left the Bagnan bus terminus approaching the Library More on NH-16, and was attempting to move towards the Kolkata-bound lane when it was hit by a Kolaghat-bound truck,' said an official of Howrah. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took to X on Friday: 'My heart goes out to the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the two consecutive horrific road accidents; yesterday in Bagnan; Howrah district and today at Balarampur; Purulia district.' He blamed the 'alarming deterioration of road safety standards in West Bengal under the supervision of the West Bengal police, which falls directly under the purview of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.' Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Trinamool Congress Slams Kesari Chapter 2 And The Bengal Files For Insulting Freedom Fighters, Demands Apology
Two films have stirred a controversy in West Bengal over the content portrayed in them. Akshay Kumar's Kesari Chapter 2 has been at the centre of a social media storm for allegedly distorting the names of freedom fighters who hailed from Bengal. In a short film clip that has been widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), Akshay Kumar is seen using the name of Khudiram Bose as Khudiram Singh. Released in April, the period drama highlights India's freedom struggle against the British regime and was recently released on Netflix. . @akshaykumar We strongly protest and condemn your steps to change the names of Bengali freedom fighters. You named Shahid Khudiram Bose as Khudiram Sing, Barin Ghosh as Barin Kumar. In your film the names were distorted. This is clear insult of Bengali history and freedom… — Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) June 19, 2025 Speaking to the media, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "Bengali freedom fighters have been insulted in the film. Khudiram Bose has been changed to Khudiram Singh. What is this? The basic facts and names have been distorted. Bengal's history of the freedom struggle and the history of freedom fighters have been insulted in a planned manner. We are strongly opposing and condemning this. Akshay Kumar and the unit should apologise for this. Some people are talking about taking legal action, and that's rightly expected." However, there has been no response from either the filmmaker or the actors regarding this uproar in West Bengal, even as an FIR has been filed in Bidhannagar South Police Station for "distorting historical facts". The Chief Minister of Bengal also didn't let it pass. While addressing a news conference on Wednesday, she said, "There are attempts to undermine the role played by Bengali revolutionaries during the independence struggle. We condemn this. The BJP has been targeting Bengal and our cultural heritage." But the BJP has refused to take the blame. Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya called it an "unnecessary" controversy. Speaking to the media, he said, "Character names are often changed in films. The TMC is using this to stir political sentiments." On the other hand, TMC Youth Wing has filed a police complaint against filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri's upcoming film The Bengal File s. The complaint against the director & producers of the film states - "The film's ulterior motive is to trigger communal unrest in the state". The film is slated to release on September 5.
