Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sudipta Chakraborty pay tribute to Rituparno Ghosh on his 58th birthday

Artistes Prosenjit Chatterjee and Sudipta Chakraborty paid tribute to the late Rituparno Ghosh on Tuesday, which would have been his 58^th birthday, at the West Bengal Film Journalists’ Association’s [WBFJA] press conference to announce the nominations for the upcoming fifth edition of the Cinemar Samabartan award show. the managing director of Priya Cinema Arijit Dutta, Gautam Jain of Real Reel and WBFJA secretary Nirmal Dey were present at the event.

The WBFJA also announced the institution of the Rituparno Ghosh August Lecture on Cinema from 2022. The guests unveiled the logo of the upcoming event at the end of the press conference.

Chatterjee made a significant shift in his career, which was hitherto associated with commercial cinema, with Ghosh’s films Unishe April (1994), followed by Utsab (2000), Chokher Bali (2003), Dosar (2006) and Khela (2008).

“Artists and technicians generally have a lot to discuss on Ritu but I never really shared my personal experiences with him because, at the back of my mind, I can still feel his presence,” said the actor, who is often referred to as "the Industry".

Chatterjee believes Ghosh will live among us as longs as his cinema survives. “I feel proud to have worked with him in so many films. Whenever I go to work outside my state, the reference of Ritu is always taken for my career," said the actor, who credits Ghosh with elevating Bengali cinema globally.

Chakraborty, who won the National award for her performance in Ghosh’s Bariwali (1999), said, “Every year, I get a lot of requests to speak about Ritu Da though I have only worked with him in a film and a telefilm. I didn’t have a long professional association with him but I definitely had a lot of personal exchanges with him about which I cannot speak publicly.”

According to Chakraborty, a lot of unnecessary attention has been paid to Ghosh’s personal life and his decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery. “Since we have gathered here to celebrate cinema, I would like to convey my request through this press conference for all to discuss Ritu Da’s works and films more than his personal life,” added the actress.

“It was his personal life and choice, and we have had enough of dissecting those. There is a lot to learn from his films as a writer, art director and even as a costume designer, and we should concentrate on those factors for the improvement of Bengali cinema” she added.

Dutta got sentimental as he recalled Ghosh celebrating his last birthday at Priya Cinema by cutting a cake on the table tennis table. He also stated that the first Bengali film screened at the cinema hall was Ghosh's Utsab (2000).