For Kolkata of past, watch films: Aparna Sen

Kolkata, Nov 15 (IANS) National Award winning director Aparna Sen says filmmakers wanting to portray the Kolkata of the past have a ready reckoner in the films of the 1960s and 1970s.

'Let me talk about some of the problems one encounters when trying to shoot in Kolkata,' Sen said at a seminar organised at the 17th Kolkata Film Festival.

'There are times when we need to portray the city of yesteryears. There were many things in the city in the past that are no longer there and the best way to refresh your memory is to watch the films from those ages.'

The renowned actress-filmmaker feels films made during the 1960s and 1970s can be the best reference for upcoming directors if they plan to bring up the old Kolkata in their films.

'When I had to shoot 'Iti Mrinalini' to recount what Kolkata looked like in the 1970s, I had to refer to the films made in the 1970s,' Sen said.

'Iti Mrinalini' revolves round the life and times of a Bengali yesteryears actress who looks back at her life. Sen's daughter Konkona Sen Sharma plays the role of the younger Mrinalini while Sen herself plays the older version.

She feels the different perspectives of various directors ranging from Satyajit Ray to Mrinal Sen on the city of Kolkata have added many more layers to the city.

'The experiences of Kolkata from the point of view of every filmmaker, from Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen to Gautam Ghosh, Rituparno Ghosh to what I have seen has crept into our films. I feel these different perspectives of different directors have also enriched Kolkata. Many more layers have been added,' she said.