Kaushik Ganguly: We cannot celebrate the success in getting the National Award in view of the present situation in Bengal.”

Kaushik Ganguly's ‘Kaberi Antardhan’ won Best Feature Film in Bengali at the 70th National Film Awards, which was announced on August 16. The film's director, who also starred in it, thanked everyone for the victory and brought attention to the ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.


During a conversation with Hindustan Times, the director shared, “I am accepting the National Award for Best Bengali Film for ‘Kaberi Antardhan’ with all humility. I am thankful that our team has been bestowed with the honour. But we cannot celebrate the success in getting the National Award in view of the present situation in Bengal.”


The filmmaker talked about the narrative of the film and also drew its comparison with the Kolkata rape case. He further added, "The narrative of Kaberi Antardhan revolves around the tale of two daughters, the tale of their crisis. The film encapsulates a particular phase a period revolving around the fate of two daughters. After so many years, when Bengal is facing turbulence in society, it gives a strange feeling of revisiting the same issue when another daughter is subjected to such heinous torture and killed. It gives a strange feeling when we hear about the tragic heart-rending fate of the woman- the female doctor at R G Kar Hospital. It gives a strange feeling of reality merging with the cinema. Hence, in the given situation we are not in the mood for any form of celebration.”


The romantic thriller ‘Kaberi Antardhan’ is set against the backdrop of the Naxal movement in the 1970s. The film stars Prosenjit Chatterjee, Srabanti Chatterjee, Kaushik Sen, Ambarish Bhattacharya, and Indraneil Sengupta in pivotal roles.


In the same category, Kaushik had previously won for ‘Bishorjan’ (2016) and ‘Shabdo’ (2012). ‘Ajogyo’, his final film as director, starred Rituparna Sengupta and Prosenjit Chatterjee in the key parts.