Kolkata International Film festival: Hawa fever takes over Nandan again

Chanchal Chowdhury’s Hawa has finally reached Kolkata. After its successful shows at the fourth Bangladesh Film Festival in October, the film was released in the city on December 16. Meanwhile, the Mejbaur Rahman Sumon-directed film also had a special screening on Friday at the 28th edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival. 

Hawa created a frenzy among the city’s cinema lovers during the Bangladesh Film Festival. The screening at Nandan-I at the KIFF was no different. The blockbuster Bangladeshi film ruled the crowd around Nandan area. A long queue formed to watch the film that started at 7.30 pm. 

Chanchal Chowdhury arrived at Nandan with Srijit Mukherji. Cine lovers and his fans gathered to take selfies with him. Recently, he took to his social media to inform that his father was taken ill and was admitted to a hospital in Bangladesh. could not be present at the press conference two days back as his father is ill and admitted to a hospital in Bangladesh. He told Anandabazar Online on Friday, “My father’s condition has not improved. I came to Kolkata, being late for a couple of days, with my family’s permission. If I get any bad news, I will immediately go back to Dhaka.” Srijit was present with the Hawa team at the press conference. 

Chanchal represented Bangladesh at the inauguration of KIFF in Netaji Indoor Stadium on Thursday. How was the experience of sharing the stage with Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bacchan, and Rani Mukherjee? Chanchal said, “We watch this programme every year on Youtube or on various channels. Being physically present here was an honour.’ He also added, “I felt a bit awkward to share the stage with those dignitaries because I think I am a small fry compared to them. Like Arijit (Singh), I also tried to take a seat in the back. I would do that had it been Bangladesh.” 

Chanchal thinks that the reason behind his popularity in this city is Hawa. It has been speculated that Chanchal will be working with Srijit in his upcoming biopic of Mrinal Sen, Padatik. Without divulging any details, Srijit said, “I am his big fan (of Chanchal Chowdhury). There are talks going on. You will know everything in proper time.”