West Bengal to build ‘Apur Sansar’ theme park as a tribute to Soumitra Chatterjee

West Bengal's government will build a theme park  in honour of eminent actor Soumitra Chatterjee's 1959 debut film "Apur Sansar", in Kolkata.

Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore in ‘Apur Sansar’.

The West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO) has invited an expression of interest (EOI) from bidders for deciding how to execute the theme park by retaining the essence of the film, HIDCO Chairman and Managing Director Debashis Sen, shared with the media.

The planned theme park on Soumitra will be situated near a group housing society in New Town, joining two theme parks on renowned director Satyajit Ray's film, "Sonar Kella" and his fictional scientist, Professor Shonku.

The 'Sonar Kella Park' has images from Ray's 1974 movie, in which Soumitra plays the iconic sleuth Feluda, and recreated models of the desert scenes shot in Rajasthan.

The bidders for the park on Soumitra have been asked to decide factors such as the use of 3D installations, among other details. "Once they submit the ideas along with the details, our panel will decide on the concept for the park," Sen, a former Housing Ministry Secretary, said.