Strength of cinema discussed at Balurghat conference

BALURGHAT: The 15th International Social Communication Cinema Conference was organised by Rupkala Kendra, under the department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal in association with District Information and Cultural Office of South Dinajpur at Baluchaya (Town Hall) in Balurghat on Friday.

Inaugurating the programme, District Police Chief Prasun Banerjee said: "Cinema can be used as a strong medium of social communication and it can't be separated from daily life. What is happening in day-to-day life is represented through cinema."

"Cinema arguably is the most powerful means of communication and nothing can be more captivating powerful and enthralling than a good movie. The directors have to use local resources while making a movie to reduce expenses. Balurghat is the city of

great culture and it has already produced many films and theatre artists and the flow is

still continuing. The local artists should be used in an effective way for short films. While making a movie, location is another important factor and outdoor shooting can be based on different locations in and around the entire district," he said.

A film Rabindranath Tagore by eminent director Satyajit Ray was screened at the event.

Later, District Police Chief Prasun Banerjee, local documentary director Patdwip Choudhury and district information and cultural officer Santanu Chakraborty took part in a panel discussion on "Cinema is a strong medium of social communication."

The audience, cinema-lovers and college students interacted with the organisers. Home production of Rupkala Kendra's short-film Dheu was also screened at the conference. An exhibition titled "Pather Panchali-Shat Bochhor Periye" (After 60 years of making Pather Panchali) was showcased at the event.

District information and cultural officer Santanu Chakraborty said: "We can reach easily people through audio-visual medium like cinema. We can also aware people about different state-run schemes and projects undertaken by the Bengal government through short documentary films. Rupkala Kendra had earlier initiated measures of producing such films."

Around 200 members were present during the programme that was anchored by Tuhin Subhro Mondal, a local theatre personality and environmentalist.