Exclusive! Subhrajit Mitra on winning National Award for Avijatrik: I wish Arjun Chakrabarty and Bickram Ghosh too got the awards

Subhrajit Mitra’s Avijatrik won the Best Bengali Film Award at the 68th National Film Awards for the Year 2020, which was announced on July 22. Besides, the cinematographer of the film, Supratim Bhol, bagged the Best Cinematography Award this year. While talking to OTTplay in an exclusive chat, Subhrajit said that he expected more from Avijatrik. 

“I wish Arjun Chakrabarty and Bickram Ghosh would get the Best Actor and The Best Music Director Awards for Avijatrik,” said Subhrajit, who is evidently elated after the announcement. “It is an out-of-the-world feeling. This is the highest recognition from my other land. I am beyond words,” he said.  

Subhrajit dedicated the award to his father Dilip Mitra. “My dad knew that we would make this film. However, he passed away during our pre-production. After completing his annual rites, I went to Benaras for recce. This film is a decade-long journey and I am very happy today,” he said. 

Also read: Exclusive! Subhrajit Mitra on Best Director Award in NABC: It is a recognition from global Bengalis 

Avijatrik had 18 official selections and participated in 45 festivals, including the 25th Kolkata International Film Festival. It won 26 awards and 42 nominations. However, the film got a lukewarm response at the box office after its release. “It was released at a time when there was 50% occupancy at theatres. It was also the time when the third wave was looming large. We are planning to re-release the film before it gets its OTT release,” said the director. 

In fact, Subhrajit won the Best Director Award at this year’s North America Bengali Conference (NABC 2022) that took place in Las Vegas. Produced by Madhur Bhandarkar, Gaurang Jalan and Sumit Agarwal, the film is a continuation of Satyajit Ray’s Apur Sansar. It features Arjun Chakrabarty, Ditipriya Roy, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and others. Earlier, Avijatrik was also acclaimed in different cities like London, Miami, Montreal, Boston, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin, and Seattle.