Weekend roundup: Soumitra tests COVID negative, ‘Avijatrik’ in KIFF, a decade in Tollywood for Srijit; here’s what made headlines in Bengali cinema

If you have missed the exciting news, gossips or latest developments that have rocked Bengali cinema this week, here is a weekly roundup for you. Take a look:

It came as a big relief for all the Soumitra Chatterjee fans as he tested negative for COVID-19. On Wednesday evening, the medical team treating him revealed that his condition has marginally improved. The iconic actor had recently tested positive for coronavirus and was rushed to a private hospital in Kolkata as his health deteriorated. The doctors claimed he has no fever since Tuesday evening but still remains in an “acute confusional state.” However, he is responding well to verbal commands and is also opening his eyes.

For some, 10 years flies in the blink of an eye and for others, it is a lifetime. Director Srijit Mukherji thinks it is both for him. Starting with Autograph (October 14, 2010), the director has made numerous films since then and when he looks back after a decade, he sees a different world altogether. According to Srijit, the biggest change the industry has seen is the aggressive usage of social media. Before 2010, film marketing mostly relied on traditional media, but the game changed when social media provided a free platform for publicity and marketing.

We will soon relive the world of Apu, the iconic character of Satyajit Ray’s ‘Apu Trilogy’, in Subhrajit Mitra’s ‘Avijatrik - The Wanderlust of Apu’. It’s Arjun Chakrabarty who will essay the iconic character Apu. In this film, Apu will relive his childhood through the eyes of his son, visiting Benaras and his village Nischindipur. The much-awaited film, shot in Benaras, Gorubathan, Taki, Bolpur and Kolkata, is now an official selection at this year’s Kolkata International Film Festival in the national competition on Indian Languages section.

Atanu Ghosh is planning to release his film ‘Binisutoy’ (Without Strings), starring Ritwik Chakraborty and Jaya Ahsan, by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the slice-of-a-life drama is set to represent the country as the only film from India in the 'SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA' segment at the 40th Hawaii International Film Festival, a focus on the best of Asian-Pacific cinema, serving as the destination of award winning films from major film festivals around the world, such as Jojo Rabbit, Just Mercy, Parasite, Shoplifters, Roma, Brokeback Mountain, and many more. The festival starts from November 5. An overjoyed Atanu is surely in happy space but at the same time he is looking forward to the big screen release.

Yash whose film ‘SOS Kolkata’ all set for its theatrical release will start shooting for Harnath Chakraborty’s upcoming film from November. The film, which is yet to be titled, also stars Ranjit Mallick in the lead. “It is a dark comedy, where I play a bartender. Ranjit da essays the role of a police officer. The film revolves around the two of us. The female lead is yet to be finalised. I will hear the script once again as Hara da narrated me the story during the first phase of lockdown and after that, the script has been changed. I am looking forward to work with a director like him who delivered hit films like Sasurbari Zindabad, Sathi, Sangee to name a few,” said the popular actor.