Rituparna Sengupta’s Bengali Movie ‘Puratawn’ Touches Emotional Chord In The UK

Fifty-four-year old national award-winning Bengali actress Rituparna Sengupta flew into the UK recently for the premiere of her film Puratawn (The Ancient). Rituparna held two screenings — London and Manchester — to attract the Indian diaspora and other nationalities. The film received an overwhelming response from her fans and others, as the film revolved around the sensitive subject of dementia. The UK has a huge population suffering from this disease. Over one million suffer today, and the numbers are likely to increase to 1.4 million, say experts, thus making Rituparna’s film more relatable to the UK audiences. The Bengali film with English subtitles explores memory loss, and reconciliation through the story of Ritika, who returns to her ancestral home with her husband to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday. What begins as a family gathering evolves into a profound meditation on ageing, identity, and the shadows of the past. The film stars screen legend Sharmila Tagore alongside Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta, with cinematography by Ravi Kiran Ayyagari and music by Alokananda Dasgupta. The film’s delicate treatment of memory and its exploration of the bonds between generations touched the chords of the UK audiences. To Rituparna, producing and acting in the film was both a professional challenge and a personal journey.