Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee believes Bengali films have lost their originality as they are copying movies from south.
"Bengali films have lost their sheen because of copying all the South Indian films. Bengali films don't have any originality anymore. In our times, filmmakers used to make novel-based movies and that time Bengali cinema was flourishing," Biswajit told reporters here.
Lamenting that Bengal film industry is "crushed", he said, "now the film-makers are simply purchasing rights and copying Tamil and Telgu films".
"Bengali audience, they want to see the real Bengal backdrop, Bengal sentiments and culture," said the 80-year-old star, who was in the city to attend a felicitation programme.
Raising concern over the declining number of stage plays, he said there are no theatres left in Kolkata.
"It is very painful to me. I am from stage and started my career from stage plays. I have seen the golden times of Bengali theatre having great actors," he added.
Biswajit, however, applauded Marathi cinema saying it is flourishing.
"Who would have thought earlier that a Marathi movie would do business of Rs200 crore, 'Sairat' did it. I like watching Marathi movies and I have seen these films."
He also appreciated thefilm 'Natsamrat' which had Nana Patekar in the lead.
Biswajit also spoke about his forthcoming film "Shadow of Mind" in which his daughter Prima Chatterjee is in the lead.
The actor said he is making a film on life of freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, which is on floors for shooting.
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Meanwhile, when asked about the attack on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali by members of an outfit, Biswajit said, "You can't spoil the history, if it is authentic, just for the sake of making films. The films should be made keeping in mind its authenticity.
"But you cannot disgrace any character. It should not be shown in bad light and not presented in a wrong way. It is a very delicate issue and particular community must have reacted as their sentiments must have been hurt. The filmmakers should be careful while making films," he added.
