Legendary filmmakers' cameras on display

Kolkata: The camera with which the film Bhagini Nivedita was shot in 1962 has turned to be the centre of attraction at the 23rd Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).

This comes at a time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is visiting London to attend the ceremony in which a Blue Plaque will be installed at the house of Sister Nivedita in connection with her 150th birth anniversary. This is the first time when an exhibition on cameras, those were used by legendary filmmakers, has been organised at Gaganendra Pradarshansala. According to an official, the decision to organise the exhibition titled "Look Thru" was taken considering that the film lovers in Bengal will love to get a glimpse of the original cameras which were used by iconic filmmakers including Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak.

The expectation of the organisers came true with people were excited to watch the cameras using which films starting from Bhagini Nivedita, Raja Rammohan, to Pather Panchali and Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen starrers Sadanander Mela were shot. There were around 12 such cameras which were being displayed at the exhibition and it was interesting to find people engrossed in watching the making of those cameras with abrupt attention.

Most people were found glued to the Arriflex Blimp (35 mm) using which the films like Bhagini Nivedita and Raja Rammohan were shot. Both the films were directed by Bijoy Bose and were released in the 1960s. Satyajit Ray had used Mitchell 35mm to shoot Pather Panchali and the display of it in the exhibition was something great for the city dwellers.

The Super Parvo cameras that was used to shoot Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen starrer Sadanander Mela is also a part of the exhibition.

Moreover, cameras like Eyemo 35 mm that was used extensively during wars in the 1940s caught everybody's attention. The film lovers from Kolkata have lauded the move of organising the exhibition and stated that it had been their longstanding demand that has been fulfilled this time. More such new initiatives every year is welcome.