Sharmila Tagore to debut under arc lights after 13 years in Suman Ghosh’s Bengali production ‘Puratawn’

Award-winning director Suman Ghosh has just unveiled the first look from his film Puratawn. The campaign will be part of the upcoming European Film Market, which will coincide with the Berlin Film Festival. The film created quite a stir, but more importantly it was the return of legendary actress Sharmila Tagore to the big screen after 13 years. Puratawn also stars two other talented actors: Rituparna Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta.

Produced by Bhavna Aaj O Kal of Rituparna, the film is set against the backdrop of rich Bengali culture and poignant emotions. As it explores the intricacies of relationships and the enduring nature of legacy, we see Sharmila’s character grappling with the challenges of aging that may well redefine her existence. As she celebrates her 80th birthday with her daughter Rituparna and son-in-law Indraneil at her ancestral home, events unfold pushing the story into a complex journey.

Ghosh, who won a National Award for his debut film Footsteps, has directed nine feature films and two documentaries. His notable works include “The Nobel Thief” (premiered in Busan in 2011), “Uncle Shyamal Turns Out the Lights” (premiered at the Museum of Modern Art, New York), “Dream Scavengers” (world premiere in Busan in 2023) and the latest Kabuliwala (with Mithun Chakraborty) (now running in Kolkata to critical acclaim). His latest documentary, Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen, had its world premiere at this year’s Rotterdam International Film Festival and was recently reviewed in these columns.

Sharmila Tagore is a pillar of the Indian film industry, known for her illustrious career that has garnered her widespread acclaim and numerous awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2013, India’s third Gao’s Civilian Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. Born into the famous Rabindranath Tagore family, her film career included roles in award-winning films like Satyajit Ray’s Apur Sansar and Devi Play a classic role. She is a versatile actress who won the Filmfare Best Actress Award and several Lifetime Achievement Awards (Filmfare, Screen, Anandalok, etc.) for her role in Aradhana. Her influence extends beyond the screen. She served as a member of the Cannes Film Festival Jury in 2009 and served as the Chairman of the Indian Film Censorship Board from 2004 to 2011.

Rituparna is an acclaimed Bengali superstar known for her outstanding contribution to cinema, especially her National Award-winning role in the seminal film Dahan. Known for her versatility, she has appeared on screen in several critically acclaimed productions including Rituparno Ghosh’s Utsab, Aparna Sen’s Paromitar Ekdin and Buddhadev Dasgupta’s Monodo Meyer Upakhyan

Indraneil is known for his insightful roles in Bengali films, including notable works like “Autograph” and “Arekti Premar Golpo” (premiered in Berlin in 2010). This year, he will appear at Hubba.