A word of thanks from actor Rakhee to CM

Kolkata: Actor Rakhee Gulzaar thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for inviting her to the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was accompanied by Banerjee and yesteryear Bollywood actor Rakhee, inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Friday in presence of Germany's Oscar-winning director Volker Schlondorff and BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

"I would like to thank Chief Mamata Banerjee for inviting me to the film festival," said Rakhee, while taking to mediapersons on Gautam Halder directed film Nirvana: The Salvation at Nandan during the ongoing 25th Kolkata International Film Festival on Sunday. The movie is about a married woman named Hasi, who along with her husband Jyoti, starts living as tenants at Bijolibala's house. Rakhee plays Bijolibala's role, who is an aged Brahmin widow.

Though she lives in the past engulfed in her memories, she relates firmly with the changes ushered in by the modern times.

The climax of the story changes when Bijolibala meets with an accident, requiring a surgery and O-ve blood. Since it's an uncommon group, it was hard to find any donor for her. Hasi volunteers to donate her blood at that time. Bijolibala gets discharged from the hospital in a week but is advised complete best rest due to her plastered leg. Now the crisis arises — who will perform the pujas at home?

"The movie has been shot in North Kolkata. The whole film portrays the changing society. Nowadays, we hardly find any neighbour during our difficult times. Earlier, there was para culture in our society. But it has vanished today," said Rakhee describing her role in the film.

She said the 107-minute movie should not only be confined to Bengali language. "The movie should be shown across the country. It should be dubbed in Hindi," Rakhee said.

During the eight-day film festival, 56 foreign film personalities from 24 countries and 60 film personalities from India will be participating as filmmakers and speakers.