Kolkata being the cultural capital of India has a vibrant cine culture of its own. People of Kolkata appreciate good, meaningful cinema. In fact, the Bengali Film industry now popularly referred to as "Tollywood" was one of the first regional film industry of India. The Bengali film industry's contribution to Indian cinema as a whole is immense. Kolkata in the past had film directors of the stature of the great Oscar award winner Satyajit Ray. Other distinguished film directors who have won global recognition through their thought provoking films are Mrinal Sen, Ritwick Ghatak, Aparna Sen and in recent times Rituparno and Gautam Ghosh.
Location: Southeast corner of the Maidan.
Time to visit: 10 A.M.-5.30 P.M.
Preferred timing : Anytime of the day
Admission Fee : Nil. But, to watch movies during Film Festivals, tickets have to be purchased which are moderately priced.
How to reach : Local buses and metered taxis are readily available from various parts of Kolkata.
Photography / Video charges: Strictly prohibited.
Nearest Railway Station: Howrah.
Nearest Metro Station: Maidan
Nearest Functional Metro Station: Maidan
Nearest International Airport : Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Time required for sight seeing : 2 hours.
With the ever growing demand for quality movies by the cinema crazy public of Kolkata, the Department of Information & Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal, decided to build a state-of-the-art cinematic complex at Kolkata and thus on 2nd September, 1985, Nandan was opened to the public as a fitting tribute to Kolkata's discerning cinematic public.
Nandan is always buzzing with activity and in its heydays, Nandan was patronized by film maestro Satyajit Ray. Film enthusiasts will find the Satyajit Ray Archive at Nandan to be a great source of information on the great man of Indian cinema. The archive provides fascinating insights in to the mind of this maverick film director. On display at the archive are some of Rays' most memorable films, scripts and commentaries made by him, when he was alive.
For students of Film studies, Nandan can be an exciting place for carrying out cinematic research. The well-stocked library has rare collections of cinematic books and journals which provide significant insight into the fascinating world of cinema - its past, present and future.
Film Festivals and Retrospectives are a regular feature at Nandan. Come November and the city eagerly awaits the launch of the Kolkata Film Festival when a maelstrom of moving pictures from all over the world, hits Nandan. The Kolkata Film Festival, through more than two decades of its history has been an integral part of the city's vibrant cultural milieu. The Kolkata Film Festival has carved a niche of its own, in the non-competitive film festivals and attracts participants from far away nations like Ecuador and Venezuela.
There is no denying the depth and subtlety with which the Kolkata Film Festival defines the city's cultural interests and its everlasting love for quality movies. Though time and circumstances has made Mumbai the center of India's film industry, Kolkata still remains the center of Indian cineastes. After all, this is the city that created India's first film society.
You might as well ask - What is it that makes the Kolkata Film Festival so unique in the International calendar of festivals? More than anything else it is the ambience. Whether you are a film buff or a culture freak or even a gossip buff, you would do well to sip a cup of freshly brewed cappuccino coffee and as you walk through the lobby you are likely to hear stimulating conversations that will open out great windows of ideas on what is happening in the far corners of the globe.
Many movie enthusiasts who come to see movies during the Kolkata Film Festival often miss out on some of the rarest gems that are on offer at the sidelines. Yes, the Retrospectives which showcase the films of great maestros of yesteryears. You are likely to catch films about which you have read extensively but haven't had the opportunity to see. While at Nandan, make it a point to drop in at the Bangla Academy, which is located at the end of the Nandan campus. It showcases short fiction films that represent rare experimental works from different corners of the world.
In the recent past, renowned film directors like Antonio Urano, Hannah Fischer, Luis Alberto Restrepo, Roland Reber, Zoltan Paul, Amir Sahab Razavian and others of their ilk have showcased their path breaking films at Nandan.
Workshops and seminars on films are de rigueur at Nandan. Make it a point to watch the film on Satyajit Ray, which has been directed by renowned film director Gautam Ghosh as a tribute to the great maestro's contribution to world cinema.
A visit to Nandan is a great way to feel the pulse of this vibrant city and to get a sense of the cultural waves that are brewing in this captivating city.
The Kolkata Film Festival held every year in the month of November.
Maidan, Park Street, Esplanade, Victoria Memorial, Birla Planeterium.
Last Updated On: 2011/07/13
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