Films for children

Lotus Lantern, one of the films in Children's Showcase

The event was inaugurated by the Special Olympic Gold medallist Nipa Bose while Khurshid Jahan Haq, State Minister for Women's and Children Affairs, was present as the chief guest. Appreciating the effort of the organiser, the minister said, 'Films should not only entertain the children. This showcasing of movies for children should ensure education through entertainment.' Among others, Chairman of the festival committee MM Rezaul Karim, Chairman of Shishu Academy Zubaida Gulshan Ara, President of Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies Habibur Rahman and the Convenor of the Children's Showcase Rahman Mustafiz also spoke on the occasion.

After the inaugural programme, Bombaier Bombete, based on the classic detective story of legendary filmmaker-writer Satyajit Ray, was screened.

Sandip Ray directs the film with a little change in the story. The story is about the famous detective Feluda and his two companions--Topshey and Lalmohan Ganguly alias Jatayu. Jatayu is invited to Mumbai because a famous director is making a Hindi film based on one of his detective stories. Before going to Mumbai he was requested by a disguised man to take a book and give it to one of his relatives in Mumbai. The problems begin when a murder occurs in the city of the world's biggest film industry. The trio gets embroiled in various mysterious events. With a strong observation power and sharp intelligence, Feluda solves the mysteries and successfully detects the man behind the crime.

The stories of Bangalee detective Feluda date back to the late 1980s. However, the character still has a strong appeal for children of all times who identify themselves with the characters of Feluda or Topshey. The movie is the third movie of the Feluda series that was made for the television. This is the first Feluda film by Sandip Ray who has followed the good old style of filmmaking of his father Satyajit Ray. The best element of the movie is the background music done by Sandip. Actor Sabyashachi Chatterjee, who played Feluda, has done the role superbly. The cinematography was also quite attractive.

The arrangement by the organisers of the film festival, however, was not worth mentioning. Technical difficulties marred the screening of the film. The projection screen was too small and even the quality of the film was below average. The lackadaisical attitude of the organisers led to a dwindling audience.

The other films of the session are Bangladeshi films Tiktiki, Rani Khaler Shanko and Story for Human by Rezanur Rahman, Chinese films Baseball Boys, Lotus Lantern, Little Tiger Bonbon and Iranian film City of Mice.