Now Reading: Mithun Chakraborty says he was not invited to KIFF
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Mithun Chakraborty says he was not invited to KIFF
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty said he was not invited to the Kolkata International Film Festival, despite attending a meeting at Nandan in Kolkata. Comparing the situation with his upcoming Moscow visit, where…
The Story in Brief
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty said he was not invited to the Kolkata International Film Festival, despite attending a meeting at Nandan in Kolkata. Comparing the situation with his upcoming Moscow visit, where he said he had been invited to a film festival, Chakraborty remarked sarcastically that he was a “very small artist”. He also questioned invitations extended to people with no direct connection to Bengal.
The remarks came during preparations for a year-long programme marking Bengali cinema icon Uttam Kumar’s birth centenary. Chakraborty, a National Award winner and Padma Bhushan recipient, has a long association with Bengali cinema. KIFF is scheduled from 16 to 23 December. The reports differ on the meeting’s date, but both state that Chakraborty spoke to the media in Kolkata.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narratives are that this was either a political snub or proof that the festival ignores Bengali cinema. Neither claim is established by the reports. Chakraborty’s criticism is clear, but the organisers’ explanation is absent. His political affiliation may colour public reactions, yet it does not settle whether he was deliberately excluded or simply not part of the programme. The useful test is whether KIFF publishes its invitee and event list before 16 December.
Sources (2): livemint.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
