KOLKATA: Bengali cinema has been celebrated this week across Germany, with two film festivals celebrating Indian storytelling in cities 633 kilometers apart. Amitabha Chaterji’s “Rango Bibaaho” earned the Jury Award for Best Film at the IndoGerman Filmweek in Berlin, while Amartya Ray was honored with the “Shooting Star” award at the 23rd Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart.“Rango Bibaaho” (Marriages By Design)—starring Deshaa Nandii, Amrita Mukhopadhyay, Partha Sarathi Chandra, and Jagannath Chakraborty—is a social comedy that uses satire and sharp observation to explore the complexities of love, marriage, and loneliness in modern society.In a different vein, “Nevermind,” which stars Rituparna Sengupta alongside Ray, unfolds through a chance encounter between two strangers at a Park Street bar, unearthing buried pasts against the backdrop of Kolkata’s neon-lit nightlife.
The ‘Rango Bibaaho’ team after winning the award
In Berlin, “Rango Bibaaho” connected through its social comedy and its exploration of loneliness and human relationships. According to Chaterji, “A quirky satire on marriage, ‘Rango Bibaaho’ balances humour with poignant social commentary. The film impressed the jury in Germany with its fresh voice and universal appeal.”The recognition in Stuttgart highlights Ray’s rise as a performer who blends exceptional talent with a promising career trajectory. His diverse body of work includes his role in the 2024 film “Maidaan” opposite Ajay Devgn, “22 Yards”, and his 2018 Bengali debut, “Uronchondi.” Beyond acting, Ray is an accomplished director and singer-songwriter, having created works like “Dhulo,” “Portraits: 2020,” and “Our Mountain Valley Home,” in addition to his work as associate director of “Nevermind.” His latest documentary, “You in this city, this city inside you,” is scheduled for a screening in Stuttgart on July 26.Commenting on the award, “Nevermind” director Chaiti Ghoshal noted, “The festival director sent him an email where he specifically highlighted being impressed by his performance in ‘Nevermind’. He also clarified that talent also includes one’s appearance and presentation, which we would also refer to as ‘star appeal’.” The team is set to travel to Germany on July 23, where Ray will personally accept the honor and present his documentary on the same day as the “Nevermind” screening. “I would like to dedicate to all unknown audiences who cried, hugged and blessed me after watching the shows in theatres,” Ray said.
