Kolkata first to have exclusive non-feature film theatre

Kolkata is set to become the first city in the country with a theatre dedicated to screening of documentaries and non-feature films on a daily basis.

One of the three auditoriums of Nandan, the state-owned multiplex, will start regular commercial screenings of all kinds of non-feature films from next month, Nandan chief executive officer Jadav Mondal told PTI here.

With tickets priced economically at Rs30, the 200-seater Nandan-II with state-of-the-art facilities and digital sound system, will have two shows daily for documentaries and short films.

"To begin with, we will give priority to filmmakers from West Bengal. But gradually, we will include films from all over the country and even outside," the official said.

Filmmaker Haranath Chakraborty, a part of the state government's cultural think tank group, said they proposed the idea after noticing a good number of audience for documentaries and short films at the Kolkata Film Festival last year.

"We don't want such films to be limited to festival circuits. People in Kolkata love films and so we thought of having a permanent venue for the purpose," he said.

A screening committee for selection of such films is being formed, officials said, adding that a part of the revenue earned from releasing the film will be shared with the producers.

Presently, the auditorium is used for regular shows of commercial feature films.

Officials said this initiative will also give a platform to diploma films from different film schools and independent filmmakers.

Some old Bengali films and regional Indian cinema will also be screened from time to time on a commercial basis.

Besides, the state government also has plans to screen children's films and classic Bengali films on the second Sunday of each month.

The news has left filmmakers in the city excited.

Supriyo Sen, who has won 32 international awards for his documentary film Wagah, said they have always been asking for such a permanent venue.

"We need to inculcate the culture of watching documentary films in the country. We are making good films but are doing little to exhibit them properly," he said.