Samir Chanda: Rest in Peace

Samir Chanda, the ace art director, as well as production designer, passed away last Thursday.
His sudden death has left a huge vacuum in Indian films.
Apart from his well-known Bollywood films, he had left his mark in Bangla films too. He was a true Bangali at heart, and breathed life into several films using his eye for details, and aesthetic sensibility.
The Bangla films for which he will be remembered forever are:
Faltu (2005),
Kalpurush (2005),
Ek Nadir Galpo (2008),
Moner Manush (2010),
and
Mukti (2011).

Aabir 'Byomkesh' Chatterjee

Aabir Chatterjee has acted in many films, and he is a known face on television too.

But nowadays his name is synonymous with that of Byomkesh Bakshi, the sleuth he played on screen.

The film, 'Byomkesh Bakshi', by Anjan Dutt was a huge success, catapulting Aabir to fame.

Byomkesh happens to be one of the most loved Bangali sleuth characters in fiction.

And, that explains Aabir's hit-hero status. I hope he sustains that with his future screen roles.

Mahanagar @Kolkata

Devdaan - new kid on the block

Here's a really promising young lad: Devdaan Bhowmik

Devdaan was noticed as a promising young boy in Riingo's "Neel Rajar Deshe".

Acting with stalwarts like Indrani Haldar & Ashish Vidyarthi, in that film, he got a major exposure. 

He again caught everybody's attention with "Chalo Paltai", playing Prosenjit's son, and Tathoi's brother.

It is really impressive to see a kid his age give such a nuanced performance. 

Given the right kind of grooming, he can go a long way & make a big splash when he matures.

With the different kinds of films being made nowadays, he can be cast as a young adult as well. 

And, in case he takes a break, due to academic pursuits, he can garner all the attention when he joins the bandwagon of leading men in a few years or so. 

Devdaan seems naturally gifted, with a flair for acting candid. 

Here's wishing him all the best in life. And let's be hopeful that he does get his due as a fresh face in Bangla cinema. 

Here's Looking at You, Shaheb!

Shaheb Bhattacharjee

Famous as Topse in Feluda films....

And recently making me go 'Wow!' in Iti Mrinalini....

He is also there in Aami Subhash Bolchhi.....

Here's wishing him all the best!

'Iti Mrinalini'

'Iti Mrinalini - An Unfinished Letter' 

'Iti Mrinalini' might not be director Aparna Sen's best film till date, it is an interesting film nonetheless. It traces, in flashbacks, the journeying of an actress through life, and love.

The film stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Shaheb Bhattacharya, Rajat Kapoor, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Kaushik Sen, Senjuti Mukherjee, Rita Kayral, Dulal Lahiri, Ananya Chatterjee, Gargi Roy Chowdhury, and Aparna Sen herself.


Interestingly, the real life mother-daughter duo, Aparna & Konkona, has essayed the same character - the protagonist, Mrinalini Mitra.

Mahanayak: The One & Only Uttam Kumar

Uttam Kumar - Mahanayak (the star of stars)

The Legend Liveth Forever~


He had passed away on 24th July, 1980. Yet, after all these years, his presence in our hearts hasn't dimmed a little. He shall always be the ultimate matinee idol in Bangla cinema.