Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) Elated at the National Award given to "Sankhachil", a India-Bangladesh joint production, filmmaker Goutam Ghose on Monday hoped the recognition in Best Bengali Film category will help strengthen the international market for cinema from the region.
"Joint productions are important culturally. I hope it encourages more joint ventures not just between West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh but (also between) Bengalis living in different parts of the world. We are trying to create an international market for Bengali cinema," Ghose told IANS.
"Sankhachil", starring National award winner Prosenjit Chatterjee, essays the pain and anguish of people living on both sides of the border following the partition of Bengal. It is Ghose's third India-Bangladesh production.
At the 63rd National Film Awards announcement in Delhi, "Sankhachil" (a species of kite) bagged the prize for Best Bengali film, adding to Ghose's bag of such honours.
The film releases simultaneously in India and Bangladesh on Poila Boisakh (first day of Bengali New Year) on April 14. The "Moner Manush" helmer also said the recognition, a fortnight before the release, could help the film to do well at the box office.
