Changing Trends in Kolkata Films

Kolkata films are improving by the day to embrace the factors of better, acting, better direction and an infusion of talent that seems to improve by the day. One can keep in touch with the upcoming masterpieces through quality website dedicated to the purpose.

We are talking about the times of Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak; we are also talking about the times of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen; and we could just go on talking almost forever, till the time the middle ages of Bengali cinema seals our lips to silent torture. Not many will be able to forgive themselves if they deny the fact that Bengali cinema, had its share of trial and error; a phase that resulted in a burst of neon shades of unforgivable combinations and murder of the term and very meaning of the word ‘fashion’. This was a chapter (a small one thankfully though), when the best of talents were exposed to the most questionable roles assisted with a sort of delivery that could award a sensible audience with immediate migraine. Imposition of a concoction of Hollywood plus Bollywood, had unfortunately rendered the spirit of Bengali cinema lost and withered almost irrecoverably.

However, the changing trends in Kolkata movies has brought back the grandeur, grace and impeccable technical aspects back to life; something like an intangible, invisible CPR that was made by the lamenting souls of the geniuses who made miracles on screen in the yesteryears. The aspects of originality has been re-infused into the concept, the storyline and perhaps, every other aspect surrounding the movies. You may say that the directors just got better with they do; you may say that the producers have become more generous with their contribution to the movies or, you may also say that the involved actors may just have descended from the heavens; or, you may also say that realization has dawned once again into the world of Bengali cinema making each release worth every penny spent on it.

There must be a reason why not just Kolkatans, but people from all over the world cannot keep their eyes off the films created by the great Rituporno Ghosh. There must be a reason good enough for more and more actors from Bollywood and beyond ensuring their presence on the Tollywood screens. And the reasons for the most of the latest releases receiving critical acclaims are only obvious.

Music to Your Ears

Do you take an interest in Indian classical music? Then you should definitely attend the Dover Lane Music Festival. It is one of the most significant Kolkata events held every year during the month of January. You can enjoy melodious classical music at this festival if you happen to be in Kolkata from 22^nd to 25^th January.

This annual cultural festival is held at an open-air auditorium in South Kolkata called Nazrul Mancha. You will be interested to know that this event draws its name from a street named Dover Lane, which is present in the Ballygunge locality of the city. This is because it was originally held in Dover Lane in the year 1952. In fact the office of the organising body of this festival is still located in that street.

Since its inception this event has undergone a great transformation. From a simple music recital function it has grown to become one of the most awaited events in the Kolkata calendar. Many famous musicians as well as newcomers from all over the country come to Kolkata to perform at this event. Over the years, it has also attracted a large number of sponsors. It draws a huge crowd and the tickets get sold very quickly. So, if you are planning on be a part of the audience, you need to buy your tickets as soon as they are made available.

New Bengali Film Did a Marvelous Job at the Box Offices

The recent Tollywood movies had done a marvelous job at the box offices. They were able to attract a lot of people to the halls. New Bengali film like Boss and Alik Sukh had great story lines.

If you are a big fan of the Tolly movie hits then there is great news to bring on a flash of instant smile on your lips. The recent big hits have done quite well at the box offices. It has been able to attract a large number of fans and public to the nearest movie halls. To name a few hits include Boss, Proloy, Half Serious, Alik Sukh, Hoi Choi, C/O Sir and a lot more. They have had good starcast along with excellent direction and lovely songs. Certainly these three factors were the basic ones to draw a large crowd to the theatre.

The movies were interesting, romantic and thrilling at the same time. For instance speaking about the recent release of the movie Boss starring Jeet and the gorgeous Subhashree, were liked by one and all. The new Bengali film is all about a Mumbai police Commissioner who announces that the city has been free of local goons. But the Surya (Jeet), has other intentions. He arranges of a plan to fill up the gap and starts to spread his tentacles in Mumbai. Another major movie that was the talk of the town was Proloy. The story revolves around an anti-rape crusader of the village named Dukhiya. A teacher who is fearless is all set to fight for this cause.

Other movies like Alik Sukh also had a unique story. A gynecologist named Kinshuk Guha had a happy family with wife and a child named Tatan. His elderly parents too stayed with them. All was fine until one day things fell apart. The movie is full of suspense and thriller and an interesting one. Just refer to the internet sites to check out latest movie reviews and their ratings.

Legendary Bengali Directors and Their Immortal Works

Bengali directors like Ajoy Kor, Asit Sen, Tarun Majumdar and many other have created immortal works. Great movies are directed by these people.

From Satyajit Ray to Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha and many more are some best talented directors of Bengal. They have established themselves both in the domestic and international spheres as great people. Besides these eminent names there are a few other people who have also contributed in presenting some valuable films. People like Asit Sen, Tarun Majumdar, Ajoy Kor can be placed in this category. Ajoy Kor, a person who started his career as a cameraman and later directed few great films. One of his famous directions includes a movie named Jighangsha. This movie starred Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen.

Later there came other movies named Saptapadi, which was also directed by the same Ajoy Kor. After Saptapadi, there released a list of movies named Parineeta, Kanchakata Heere and many more. Even another hit named Saath Pakhe Bandha starring Soumitra Chatterjee was a huge hit at the box office. This film was selected for a number of film festivals and other nominations. Being a superb cameraman, he knew all the best angles that were required for a good scene in movies.

Among Bengali directors there was another eminent personality named Asit Sen whose numerous movies were translated into Hindi Movies. One of his famous works included Deep Jwele Jaye, where Suchitra Sen played the lead role. She received numerous awards for this role. This movie, much later was translated into a Hindi version named Khamosi starring Waheeda Rahman. Even Uttar Falguni starring Uttam Kumar was another of his great hits. Tarun Majumdar, another eminent person started with Palatak that did not have any famous star cast, but was still capable of having a mark in the box offices. Beautiful songs and perfect visuals of villages were portrayed in this movie.

These eminent personalities are people who are remembered by the film world as someone who have spread good value of art and culture.

The Original Superstars: Bengali Cinema’s First Faces

Bengalis are famous for their love of art and culture. Large expressive eyes and a penchant for performance have always been characteristics associated with Bengalis and it’s only natural that the movie industry from this part of the country has produced some memorable actors and actresses.

The most well known Bengali actor to date has been Uttam Kumar. He had a close bond with Satyajit Ray, the director had written the main character in Nayak with Kumar in mind.   His performances in both Hindi and Bengali film turned him into a cultural icon.  He was a regular in Tollywood news for his cinematic work. He had a phenomenal fan base which continues even to this day. Reruns of his films on television decades after his death are still eagerly watched. Uttam Kumar’s time is considered by most as the golden era of Bengali cinema.

Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar’s female counterpart in many of his hits was also a famous actress in her own right. She was the first Bengali actress to win an international award for her role in Saat Paake Bandha. She received a Best Actress Award for the film Devdas (1955), which was her first Hindi movie.

Soumitra Chatterjee is an iconic Bengali actor from, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with Satyajit Ray. His film debut came in 1959 in Ray’s The World of Apu. He was cast in diverse roles and featured as Feluda in Ray’s series of detective movies based on the novels. These roles showcased Chatterjee’s versatility in playing diverse characters, especially in an urban setting.

These actors paved the way for the performers of today. Besides creating a name for themselves and peppering Tollywood news, these three talented thespians created a cinematic identity for Kolkata based films.

Tollywood’s Legendary Sultans of Cinema

 

The cinematic styles of West Bengal, popularly known as Tollywood, has a humungous fan following. From Kolkata to Assam, people are avid followers of this film industry. Today, Bengali movies are up to, if not better than, Bollywood standards. In fact, the term ‘Bollywood’ was inspired by the Bengali ‘Tollywood’, which is a juxtaposition of ‘Tollygunge’ and ‘Wood’ (as in Hollywood).  Numerous actors and directors are turning their lenses towards our city in the hope of finding inspiration and beauty.

Tollywood itself has had some renowned directors, some who have enjoyed national and international acclaim! Here are a few of the Tollywood directors who helped cement the vision of Kolkata as a haven for movie makers.

Hiralal Sen was the man who brought cinema into Kolkata by setting up the Royal Bioscope Company. He created adaptations of theatrical shows, made news films, took commissions, made ad films and put on private shows for high society.

Our next director needs no introduction as he’s one of the best directors who have been produced from this side of the world. Satyajit Ray career as a movie maker was as successful as it was groundbreaking. He won an Academy Award, an award at the Cannes Film festival and numerous other international honours for his emotionally deep and complex movies like Pather Panchali.

Another great director is Mrinal Sen, is the recipient of the French distinction of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters and the Russian Order of Friendship. Other prominent film makers include Bimal Roy and Ritwik Ghatak. Together, from 1952 to 1975, these directors transformed Tollywood to the art movie legends it is known for producing today.

The New Breed of Kolkata Celebs

Kolkata, being the hub of culture that it is, has celebrities ranging from poets to scientists, from magicians to film makers, theatrical actors and Bollywood superstars. Art is an all encapsulating force celebrated in this city wholeheartedly in whatever way possible, especially in cinema. Kolkata celebs are famous for being talented and daring in their work, with numerous such celebrities garnering acclaim.

Arguably the greatest director to come out of the country, Satyajit Ray, brought Indian cinema into the limelight the world over. Lauded as a film genius, his movie ‘Pather Panchali’ won eleven international prizes, including a Palm D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Human Documentary. Throughout his career he tackled various genres ranging from fantasy to science fiction to detective films to historical drama. His films have been describes as deceptively simple with deep underlying complexity.

This initial simplicity that belies complex emotional undercurrents is popular in a lot of Bengali films. One can see it in movies made by Rituparno Ghosh and the way his movies tackle complex gender identity issues, one can see it in the way Konkona Sen Sharma performs. Topics such as bisexuality and the emotional/social struggles  of the transgender community are covered in Kaushik Ganguly’s film, ‘Arekti Premer Golpo’. Infidelity and woman’s ability to let live are shown in Mrs. Sen. This tendency to take upon topics that are unusual as well as taboo is prevalent in Tollywood and is what defines it. It is what sets Tollywood apart from any other film industry. There are numerous actors and actresses that have predominantly acted in either Tollywood, Bollywood or both. The list is endless, with numerous big names of the industry such as Uttam Kumar, Rahul Bose, Sharmila Tagore, Mithun Chakraborty and others.

Kolkata celebs also believe strongly in supporting each others’ efforts, as can be seen in every Bengali movie premier in Kolkata, any disturbance in the film fraternity, in cinematic collaborations and etc. In good times as well as bad times, the celebrities of the city refer to this industry as ‘My Tollywood’ and strive to encourage more film makers, with newer ideas and concepts.

Even Bollywood has taken an interest in Kolkata, with movies such as Parineeta, Love Aaj Kal, Kahaani, Barfi! and Vicky Donor all with scenes filmed in various parts of Kolkata, showcasing the cities laidback vice and old school architecture. In West Bengal, there’s also the scope of shooting both mountain in Darjeeling and the sea in Digha, the landscape can be a vibrant, vivacious city or serene nature. This is probably a reason why film makers are coming to Kolkata, for a change from the usual and for the vast variety in landscapes.

All in all, the Kolkata industry is peppered with brilliant directors, actors, writers, musicians and singers, dancers and theatre buff. Even the critics in this city are noteworthy! With new talent coming up and Bollywood taking an interest, there is hope for new scope and greener cinematographic pastures. Hopefully the new lot of young Bengali actors and actresses will do our old time geniuses proud and take Bengali cinema to new heights.

How to Obtain the Most Interesting Tollywood News

Obtaining the most interesting Tollywood news is made possible with quality websites dedicated to the purpose. These websites can be accessed through all mediums that can support internet.

Tollywood is certainly going places with a number of super talented actors and directors coming up with their best shots. As a Kolkatan, we do feel happy about how our Bengali movies are earning fame not just within the boundaries of West Bengal, but all over the country and beyond. In the present years, we often come across Tollywood releases that involve renowned Bollywood star cast and international stars as well. It only goes on to show that almost all people from any corner of the world are able to relate with the movies of Tollywood.

Considering the fact that there is so much going on with Tollywood productions, Kolkatans are ever hungry to know about each and every details about each and every event that seems to be making headlines in the news papers. Come evening, all regular Kolkatans get their eyes glued to their televisions to absorb every bit of news that may have happened in the industry. Which star created a uproar wearing what to which event, who slurred whose name to get that much coveted role in which movie, which budding star declined which established director’s approach to cast him / her, all details of every star wedding and information of the like is practically therapeutic for all who are addicted to the same.

Considering the importance of Tollywood news to people in general, and as an attempt to satisfy the growing inclination of the everyday Kolkatans to learn about the same, sources have introduced a number of websites in the internet which is dedicated to bringing about the most interesting information about all things Tollywood. The information that can be obtained from these websites are unique with everything cut and uncut included in the same. If the television channels had decided to remove certain scenes from their footages, one can be certain that these websites will do all justice to the edited parts. So, being a hard core fan of Tollywood and everything associated with it, it will always be a better option to obtain all news associated with this wonder world from these perfectly designed websites.

Why Kolkata Celebs are Popular World Over

Kolkata celebs are practically a storehouse of many talents. With their aptitude, they have managed to win praise and appreciation from fans all over the world.

Bengali movies have been since ages, attracting the attention of the entire world and has also managed to win applause from the international crowd. The yesteryear genius Satyajit Ray’s Pather Pachali can be mentioned as a shining example of the same, a movie that won him about eleven international awards. Being one the oldest hubs of Indian cinema, there is always a lot that is expected out of Bengali movies or, the Tollywood productions as we currently recognize it as. Be it the plots, the direction, the music or, the cinematography, the impact of everything seems to magnify when it comes to Bengali films. But, over and above all the mentioned, it is the contribution of the stars that can be upheld as non negotiable and the most identifiable aspect in any production whatsoever. Thus, the amount of expectations that one has from the stars of Bengali films has always been greater than the expectations of any other element on the making of a movie. The fact that can be applauded is that, the Bengali actors through the decades have actually managed to maintain the expected standards and pass on their essence to the concerned movies.

Over the years and through various movies, these actors have managed to build an image of themselves that can associate with anyone and everyone not just in Bengal but all over the world. Kolkata celebs of the yesteryears and of today, geniuses like Uttam Kumar, Soumitro Chatterjee, Mithun Chakravarty and many more have managed to create lasting impressions not just with their style but with the way they can blend into their memorable characters and blend into the minds of all those witnessing their jaw dropping performances. Being storehouses of a million talents, these ever versatile and talented actors can always be expected to bring froth something new and something worth cherishing for people to remember for generations. The actions, the endeavors and the charm of the Bengali stars are usually exemplary and are upheld in thousands of different acting schools and colleges all over the country. The qualities are such that people are bound to get inspired by it in some way or, the other.

Welcome to My Tollywood Film Industry

There is a lot to know about the world of my Tollywood film industry. Many interesting facts about this film industry are not even known to its most dedicated fans. Today, online Tollywood websites offer this information to Tollywood fans.

World of cinema has its own charm and magical appeal. Cinema has millions of fans world over. In India, both Bollywood as well as Tollywood film industries rule the hearts of cinema lovers. Bollywood offers its fans the taste of larger than life, Hindi commercial movies, whereas, Tollywood is known for its superb masterpieces made in the regional languages. Numerous directors, singers and actors from Tollywood films have also given their contribution to the world of Hindi cinema. There is immense talent and potential in each and every member of my Tollywood film fraternity. There are many facts about this film industry that are not even known to its most dedicated fans.

For instance, the term ‘Tollywood’ for Bengali film industry was coined way before the idea of naming the Hindi film industry as ‘Bollywood’ was even conceived. It is also quite surprising for most fans to know that till the year, 1970 Tollywood film industry was the biggest industry! There are numerous such glorious facts about the world of Tollywood films that fans can now discover through any reputed Tollywood based websites. There are numerous such websites, but not all of these are of same standard, so they differ in terms of popularity that they enjoy from online Tollywood fans.

You can make use of any of the popular search engines, to find the top rated Tollywood website and then browse through it to get all the latest and fresh information about the Tollywood film industry. These websites have online galleries that have loads of industry gossips and news. You can even get information about the forthcoming movie releases on these websites and thus get some idea about the storyline of the movie. In case you find the plot of the movie interesting then you can go ahead and watch it. These websites also provide fans with the latest updates about the leading Bengali actors, film reviews, celeb lifestyles, behind the scene gossips, etc.

These websites are full of all the spicy information that can satisfy any fan. For all lovers of Tollywood cinema, these websites are a perfect medium to get a closer look into the professional as well as private lives of stars.