Asked about the first published novel in Bengali, most of us would probably say ‘Alaler Gharer Dulal’ (1857-58), written by Peary Chand Mitra under the pseudonym Tekchand Thakur. And we would be wrong. While a pioneering novel in many ways, this wasn’t the first published
Pagla Dashu, the very name evokes a smile and opens floodgates of memories. One of children literature’s most endearing character, Dashu aka Dasharathi is the quintessential school boy whose mad-cap capers and quite-often inexplicable actions carry subtle comedic satire. His bold misdeeds show sparks of
The fast-vanishing cabin culture of erstwhile Kolkata brings back memories of bygone days. The old cabins of North Kolkata are what dreams are made of in a bustling city. Forget AC or “ambiance,” they serve great food, the kind of food whose history can be
This is the second of a two-part piece on how standalone movie theatres are fading from our lives, interspersed with insights from theatre owners and personal anecdotes by the writer. Basusree Cinema right on the main S.P. Mukherjee Road is still running in a financially weak
This is the first of a two-part piece on how standalone movie theatres are fading from our lives, interspersed with insights from theatre owners and personal anecdotes by the writer. No Presents Please is a collection of short stories by the Kannada writer Jayant Kaikini. The
Afghanistan’s troubled history has been stained with bloodbath, but this is again a nation that had caught the attention of legendary Bengali author Syed Mujtaba Ali, who saw this country from a different perspective. An intrepid traveller and a true cosmopolitan, the legendary Bengali author,
Indrajit: Where and how did you first meet Rituparno Ghosh? Prabuddha: I remember the first time he called me was on July 18, 2011. The date stands out because I had lost my mother just two days earlier. He told me he had started a project
Buddhadeb Guha - it still seems too early to call him the ‘late’ Buddhadeb Guha - inherited his love for nature and wildlife, as well as life in general, from his father Sachin Guha. The latter, a large, loud, prosperous, extremely generous man, would organise
Abhijaan One good news is that this year, not less than seven Bengali films have been chosen for screening at the 12th International Film Festival of Melbourne. The package presents a happy collage of filmmakers, subjects, treatment and approach. The festival will run from the second
After a long hiatus, theatres in Kolkata opened at 50 per cent capacity with two very indifferent films, followed by two distinctive films by noted filmmakers releasing on August 19. One of these is Binisutoy, written and directed by National Award-winner Atanu Ghosh. The other