Arvind Kejriwal, Rituparna Sengupta inaugurate Bangla Cine Utsab-2018

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali and Bengali actor Rituparna Sengupta today inaugurated the 11th edition of Bangla Cine Utsab-2018 here.

Organised by Bengal Association, the three-day-long festival, will showcase ten full length feature films and ten short films by renowned filmmakers as well as budding Bangla directors and producers.

"Bengal's culture is very rich and the language is really very sweet and I hope the academy will nurture and celebrate that culture.

"Since past 60 years Bengal Association has been demanding Bengal Academy, we have decide to create the academy. I believe it is a great news for more than 50 lakh Bengalis living in Delhi that now they will soon have their own Bengal Academy. The orders and notifications have been passed. And I am sure next year we will do Bangla Cine Utsab on a much bigger scale," Kejriwal said at the inauguration ceremony.

Bangla films like "Mayurakshi", "Pupa", "Bhalobasar Bari", "Haami", "Rainbow Jelly", "Benche Thakar Gaan", "Babar Naam Ganghiji", "Ahare Mone" and "Maacher Jhol" will be screened during the festival.

Sengupta's "Bhalobasar Bari" was screened today at the festival and the critically acclaimed actor said she was happy to see the efforts of Bengal Association is making to promote the region's cinema.

"I am so proud to be here. I am really happy that we have so many film enthusiasts in Delhi, who are willing to explore Bengali cinema. I will always be there for Bengal Association if they need my support in promoting our cinema," she said.

The film extravaganza will conclude on August 12 and "Maacher Jhol" will be the closing feature of the festival.