Amitabh Bachchan as Deepak Sehgal: Making a “nostalgic homecoming”, Calcutta’s favourite Jamaibabu echoed the steely determination of the retired lawyer he had played in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s Pink. Just like Pink sent out a strong social message about she power and women empowerment, Bachchan spoke about the rights of women and their place in our society, and “how the issue has been reflected in our cinema”. After his annual lecture in cinema history at Netaji Indoor Stadium, the 74-year-old face of Bollywood focused on how “Pink raises unsettling queries largely ignored by our film industry and brings the issue of sexual violence and sexual consent into urban middle-class homes”. He then raised the decibel and the drama a notch or two by reciting the poem celebrating woman power that closed Pink, and his 2016 tryst with the film festival.
Jaya Bachchan as Dhonni Meye: Keeping it crisp, Jaya had the audience in splits with a cheeky three-liner: “When you have two people from the same family on the same stage, then you have to decide who you want to listen to. I’m your daughter, you can listen to me anytime. Jamaibabu ke shunun.”
Shah Rukh Khan as Babumoshai: This time, it was not the Baritone’s Bengali but the Badshah’s Bengali. The brand ambassador of Bengal, beard in place, turned on the charm in Bengali. “Priyo bondhugan apnader shobaike amar namaskar. Kolkata-e ashbo aar Bangla bolbo na, e ki kokhono hoy?!” dimpled the KKR owner, welcoming all to the film festival.
Kajol as Calcutta fan: “I love you Kajol,” were the first words from the stands greeting her, and Kajol returned the gesture by expressing her love for the “amazing city”... “the people”... “ the fantastic food”. “What would I take back? I would bottle the essence of Calcutta, which is the people and the love that I have got from here,” she grinned.
Sanjay Dutt as Didi bhakt: He kept it short and simple, expressing gratitude to chief minister Mamata Banerjee. “I have a special connect with Calcutta. My mother was born here on June 1, 1929.... Mamatadidi stood by me in the hardest times of my life and so I will be there whenever she calls me,” said Dutt.
Parineeti Chopra as grateful debutant: Hasee toh phasee, and Parineeti smiled and thanked her way through her words. “Thank you for loving me… hope I do a film good enough to be shown here some day.”
Mamata as MC: Mamata Banerjee proved yet again that she is the state’s Master of Ceremonies number one. Even while welcoming all dignitaries to the 22nd film fest, she advance-booked the Bachchans, Shah Rukh and Kajol for the 23rd edition! To loud cheers from the stadium crowd.
Text: Arindam Chatterjee. Pictures: Pabitra Das
