Book fest to celebrate literature, films, music

Reading a good book is like taking a journey into the unknown. So be ready to celebrate a festival of books – Pustak Parban 2017– organised by the Bangur Boi O Utsav Committee, supported by the Publishers and Booksellers Guild – between November 30 and December 10 this year.

"Bengali Literature and Celluloid" is the theme of the festival this year (started in 2014). Legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee, in the presence of ace poet Nirendranath Chakraborty, Srijato, Pracheta Gupta, Sudhangshu Shekhar Dey (President, Publishers and Booksellers Guild), Tridib Chatterjee (General Secretary, Publishers and Booksellers Guild), Bratya Basu (President, Bangur Boi o Utsav committee), Sujit Bose (Chief Adviser, Bangur Boi o Utsav committee), Mriganka Bhattacharya (General Secretary, Bangur Boi o Utsav committee ) will grace the inaugural ceremony on November 30. It will be followed by a musical by noted vocalist Raghab Chatterjee.

More than 50 book stalls featuring noted publishers like Ananda Publishers, Dey's Publishers, Patra Bharati, Rupa, Deb Sahitya Kutir, Laal Mati, Abhijan, National Book Trust besides stalls meant for little magazines are worth mentioning.

Apart from books there will be cultural activities too. To celebrate two legendary musical genius from Bengal, there will be two special segments, like a tribute to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (remembering him on his pre-birth centenary year) while legendary composer Salil Chowdhury will be remembered through a gala musical. Ace singers like Shibaji Chatterjee, Arundhati Holme Chowdhury, Saikat Mitra will perform songs of Hemanta Mukhopadhyay on Decemer 9. On the other hand, Antara Chowdhury, Shampa Kundu, Subhankar Bhaskar, Amit Ganguly will celebrate music of Salil Chowdhury on Decemer 8.

The event will also feature drawing competition, dance and singing competition, seminars, walk for elderly persons and much more. On the whole, it will be a cultural get-together with greater people participation. The event will be held at the Bangur Pumping Station Ground in North Kolkata.