Earlier this month, the air at Park Street was thick with celebration as the team behind Puratawn gathered at Park Street’s Flamboyant to toast the film’s resounding success. The evening, bathed in a warm afterglow of box-office love, saw cast, crew and friends come together to reminisce, raise toasts, and relive their favourite moments from the film.
Leading the charge was Rituparna Sengupta, who looked sharp in a midnight blue top paired with denims. Indraneil Sengupta, dapper in a white shirt, said, “It’s been a film very close to all our hearts. We knew we were telling a story that needed to be told — we just didn’t expect this kind of embrace from the audience. It’s overwhelming, in the best way. The story spans generations, so the audience is huge! There is a mother-daughter dynamic and the complexities of a married couple, so these layers, I think made the film click with the audience. We had beautiful memories on the set with Sharmila Tagore but I think my favourite part was when all of us used to eat together. Ritu used to get authentic Bengali food for Sharmilaji and this one time she asked for koi maach, which is a common sight in Bengal but not in Mumbai!”
Director Suman Ghosh told t2: “One of the memories that I recollect from the sets of Puratawn is Sharmila Tagore walking in. She never raised her voice on anybody but just the gravitas of that woman and the silence that followed.... her telling me “shot ta bolo”... that is a memory I will always cherish.” The party was a mix of laid-back chatter, spontaneous selfies, and plenty of nostalgia. Bengali songs played gently in the background, lending an atmospheric touch. But the moment of the night came much later, when the opening bars of Baap eseche echoed across the room. Almost on cue, in walked Dev, sending the room into raptures.
Dev
“There he is!” someone shouted, as the crowd made way for him. Clad in a shirt with a bold tiger graphic and unmistakably charismatic, Dev made a quick beeline to the centre of the room where a thematic cake awaited its ceremonial cutting. “I am very happy for the success of Puratawn. I’ve watched it and it is an emotional watch. I wish for more success for the team and Bengali cinema at large,” he said in a brief but heartfelt speech, before urging the team to “never stop making films that make you feel things.”
The night wore on with clinking glasses, shared stories, and plenty of laughter. “This isn’t just a party,” Rituparna later said. “It’s a celebration of belief — that stories like this still matter, and that there’s an audience that wants to feel, not just watch.” As the lights dimmed and the last song played, Park Street outside continued its timeless hum. Inside, Puratawn had already secured its place in the hearts of those who made it — and those who came to celebrate it.