Renowned director Debaloy Bhattacharya openly challenges fellow director Anurag Kashyap

Kolkata, 31 March 2024: Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole is poised to get a World Premiere on hoichoi, on 12th of April, as a Subho Naboborsho treat for all Bengalis worldwide! The film released to raving reviews from critics, media fraternity and audiences, and has been loved by the youth as well as their parents, who have grown up reading or listening to the novels of Swapan Kumar, and his quirky creation - detective, Dipak Chatterjee. 

The film garnered praise for its screenplay, script, and overall look & feel, as director Debaloy Bhattacharya endeavored to spotlight the tale of Swapan Kumar and his forgotten detective of Kolkata, Dipak Chatterjee. Swapan Kumar, a beloved figure among the masses, was the focal point of the film's exploration. Through meticulous storytelling, Bhattacharya aimed to resurrect Swapan Kumar's legacy with his imaginary character Dipak Chatterjee and their impact on Kolkata's literary landscape. Bhattacharya along with actors Paran Bandopadhaya and Abir Chatterjee, skillfully portrayed the characters and kept the essence of Kolkata's cultural milieu alive, captivating viewers with a compelling narrative. 

During the inaugural session of the inaugural Kolkata French Film Festival, celebrated filmmaker Anurag Kashyap participated in a seminar, during which he expressed his perspectives on Bengali Cinema. Criticizing the contemporary state of filmmaking, he remarked that it has deteriorated significantly. Kashyap lamented the industry's decline from its illustrious past, highlighting luminaries such as Ritwick Ghatak and Satyajit Ray as beacons of its golden era. He further described the current condition of Bengali cinema as substandard, using the term "Ghatiya" to convey his disappointment. Kashyap's comments underscored a sense of nostalgia for the industry's former glory, juxtaposed with his disapproval of its present trajectory. The filmmaker's critique sparked discussions within the cinematic community. 

In response, Debaloy Bhattacharya wryly acknowledges that Bengali films are substandard, jesting that even his film - Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole falls into this “Ghatiya” category. He critiques various elements of his work, including screenplay, dialogues, and the integration with Dipak Chatterjee and Swapan Kumar, alluding to their inferior quality. Bhattacharya's self-deprecating remarks reflect a candid acknowledgment of perceived shortcomings within his creations, injecting a touch of irony into the conversation.  

The central focus of this contentious exchange lies in Debaloy Bhattacharya's direct challenge to Anurag Kashyap's criticism. Despite watching this film which has a World Premiere release, exclusively on hoichoi, on 12th April, if Anurag Kashyap remains firm in his belief that Bengali Cinema is substandard or “Ghatiya”, then Debaloy Bhattacharya boldly declares that he will STOP making any further films deemed "subpar” or “Ghatiya”!

Video: https://youtu.be/ro-y_TBUGZA