kalpavigyan
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This is the first documentary film on the history of Bangla Kalpavigyan and Indian Science Fiction. But what is Bangla Kalpavigyan? Is there such a thing as Bangla Science Fiction? Is there such a thing as Indian SF?
This is our journey with the genre, captured and presented like never before in film.
Beginning with the early work of writers such as Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain (Begum Rokeya) and the speculative mode in Bengal, and ending with the pioneering webzine Kalpabiswa, the film traces the historical arc of Kalpavigyan over a century of the genre. The principal focus of the film are the genre magazines of the 1960s-80s published in Kolkata and the writers and editors who ignited the movement by giving it shape and form through these magazines. The film is built around a series of conversations with these writers and their successors, and also features critical reflections from researchers and scholars who have worked with the genre both in relation to Bengal and Kalpavigyan as well as the wider phenomenon of SF.
The figure of Adrish Bardhan, the editor of the first Bangla SF magazine, 'Aschorjo', looms large over the film, as do major writers such as Satyajit Ray, Premendra Mitra, and Leela Majumdar. The film dives into the particularities of editorial decisions, political concerns, and personal histories that made the magic of Kalpavigyan happen amidst often bleak publishing realities and poverty. But it also sheds warm light on the ultimately liberating strain of speculative utopianism that shapes and continues to shape the genre as an ongoing discussion between fans, critics, and writers.
The film will be of interest to all scholars of Kalpavigyan and SF.
Produced by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay
Directed by: Arunava Gangopadhyay
Research by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay
Scripted by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay & Arunava Gangopadhyay
Screenplay by: Arunava Gangopadhyay
DOP: Avi Bandyopadhyay
Edit: Abhishek Pradhan
Sound: Navonil Bhattacharya
Music: Subhadip Mitra
Voiceover: J.K. Chattopadhyay
Consultant Editor: Sreya Chatterjee
Colourist: Subhadip Mondal
Publicity Design: Saptadip Dey Sarkar
Animations: Debashis Mukherjee
Associate Director: Anamik Saha
Assistant Directors: Sweta Ghosh & Bijoy
Trailer Edit: Abhishek Pradhan
Promo Directors: Arunava Gangopadhyay & Koustav Bhattacharya
Featuring (in order of appearence): Adrish Bardhan, Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay, Enakhhi Chattopadhyay, Anindya Sengupta, Riju Ganguly, Sumit Bardhan, Barnita Bagchi, Anwesha Maity, Abhijit Gupta, Sandip Ray, Moumita Sen, Team KALPABISWA, Anish Deb, Ranen Ghosh, Amitananda Das, Abhijnan Roychowdhury
Enactment: J.K. Chattopadhyay, Saswati Chattopadhyay, Debraj Naiya, Sweta Ghosh
Special Appearance: Samit Basu, Salik Shah, Sami Ahmad Khan, Sukanya Datta, Mimi Mondal
Acknowledgment: Nemai Ghosh, Sandip Ray, Abhijit Gupta, Dr.Snehamanju Basu, J.K.Chattopadhyay, Saswati Chattopadhyay, Riddhi Goswami, Atanu Deb, Ambor Bardhan, Pallab Roy, Mita Ganguly, Dipankar Roychowdhury, Goutam Bhattacharjee, Debjani Bhattacharya, Koustav Bhattacharya, Sreya Chatterjee, Dip Ghosh, Santu Bag, Sandipan Ganguly
Winners:
1) EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN AWARD at 6th Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival, Beijing, 2021
2) L.A. Sci-Fi & Horror Festival, 2021
3) HONOURABLE MENTION at Brussels Capital Film Festival, 2021
4) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at Calcutta Cult Film Festival, 2021
Official Selection: In Competition
1) 47th Boston Sci Film Festival, 2022
2) 13th Montevideo Fantastic Film Festival, Uruguay, South America, 2022
3) 6th Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival, Beijing
4) Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival, 2021
5) Lift-Off Global Network New York, 2021
6) Berlin Sci-Fi Film Fest, 2021
7) Brussels Capital Film Festival, 2021
8) Calcutta Cult Film Festival, 2021
9) 12th Cinefantasy International Fantastic Cinema Festival, São Paulo-Brazil, 2021
10) L.A. Sci-Fi & Horror Festival, 2021
11) Virginia Dares Cinematic Arts Awards, 2021
12) International Moving Film Festival, Iran, 2021
This is our journey with the genre, captured and presented like never before in film.
Beginning with the early work of writers such as Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain (Begum Rokeya) and the speculative mode in Bengal, and ending with the pioneering webzine Kalpabiswa, the film traces the historical arc of Kalpavigyan over a century of the genre. The principal focus of the film are the genre magazines of the 1960s-80s published in Kolkata and the writers and editors who ignited the movement by giving it shape and form through these magazines. The film is built around a series of conversations with these writers and their successors, and also features critical reflections from researchers and scholars who have worked with the genre both in relation to Bengal and Kalpavigyan as well as the wider phenomenon of SF.
The figure of Adrish Bardhan, the editor of the first Bangla SF magazine, 'Aschorjo', looms large over the film, as do major writers such as Satyajit Ray, Premendra Mitra, and Leela Majumdar. The film dives into the particularities of editorial decisions, political concerns, and personal histories that made the magic of Kalpavigyan happen amidst often bleak publishing realities and poverty. But it also sheds warm light on the ultimately liberating strain of speculative utopianism that shapes and continues to shape the genre as an ongoing discussion between fans, critics, and writers.
The film will be of interest to all scholars of Kalpavigyan and SF.
Produced by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay
Directed by: Arunava Gangopadhyay
Research by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay
Scripted by: Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay & Arunava Gangopadhyay
Screenplay by: Arunava Gangopadhyay
DOP: Avi Bandyopadhyay
Edit: Abhishek Pradhan
Sound: Navonil Bhattacharya
Music: Subhadip Mitra
Voiceover: J.K. Chattopadhyay
Consultant Editor: Sreya Chatterjee
Colourist: Subhadip Mondal
Publicity Design: Saptadip Dey Sarkar
Animations: Debashis Mukherjee
Associate Director: Anamik Saha
Assistant Directors: Sweta Ghosh & Bijoy
Trailer Edit: Abhishek Pradhan
Promo Directors: Arunava Gangopadhyay & Koustav Bhattacharya
Featuring (in order of appearence): Adrish Bardhan, Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay, Enakhhi Chattopadhyay, Anindya Sengupta, Riju Ganguly, Sumit Bardhan, Barnita Bagchi, Anwesha Maity, Abhijit Gupta, Sandip Ray, Moumita Sen, Team KALPABISWA, Anish Deb, Ranen Ghosh, Amitananda Das, Abhijnan Roychowdhury
Enactment: J.K. Chattopadhyay, Saswati Chattopadhyay, Debraj Naiya, Sweta Ghosh
Special Appearance: Samit Basu, Salik Shah, Sami Ahmad Khan, Sukanya Datta, Mimi Mondal
Acknowledgment: Nemai Ghosh, Sandip Ray, Abhijit Gupta, Dr.Snehamanju Basu, J.K.Chattopadhyay, Saswati Chattopadhyay, Riddhi Goswami, Atanu Deb, Ambor Bardhan, Pallab Roy, Mita Ganguly, Dipankar Roychowdhury, Goutam Bhattacharjee, Debjani Bhattacharya, Koustav Bhattacharya, Sreya Chatterjee, Dip Ghosh, Santu Bag, Sandipan Ganguly
Winners:
1) EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN AWARD at 6th Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival, Beijing, 2021
2) L.A. Sci-Fi & Horror Festival, 2021
3) HONOURABLE MENTION at Brussels Capital Film Festival, 2021
4) OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at Calcutta Cult Film Festival, 2021
Official Selection: In Competition
1) 47th Boston Sci Film Festival, 2022
2) 13th Montevideo Fantastic Film Festival, Uruguay, South America, 2022
3) 6th Pumpkin Fantasy Film Festival, Beijing
4) Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival, 2021
5) Lift-Off Global Network New York, 2021
6) Berlin Sci-Fi Film Fest, 2021
7) Brussels Capital Film Festival, 2021
8) Calcutta Cult Film Festival, 2021
9) 12th Cinefantasy International Fantastic Cinema Festival, São Paulo-Brazil, 2021
10) L.A. Sci-Fi & Horror Festival, 2021
11) Virginia Dares Cinematic Arts Awards, 2021
12) International Moving Film Festival, Iran, 2021