Shatrughan Sinha Credits Mamata Banerjee for Giving KIFF Global Recognition

KOLKATA, Nov 8 — Hindi film veteran and Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha was conferred the Banga Bibhushan Samman by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, an honour that left the actor “emotional and grateful.” The Asansol MP described Kolkata as his “home away from home,” saying the warmth and affection he receives in Bengal makes him feel deeply connected to the state’s cultural heritage.

Sinha, who has been attending the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) for the past five years, said the honour further strengthens his bond with Bengal’s artistic legacy. “I feel proud of being showered with so much love and respect here. I cannot forget that I’m getting respect in the land of Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Satyajit Ray, and Ritwik Ghatak. Ritwik da was the vice-principal of FTII when I joined there, and he was very fond of me,” he recalled.

Reflecting on his association with Mamata Banerjee, Sinha said, “I was very touched by her gesture. Her affection and the way her team makes me feel comfortable are truly heartwarming. They tell me, ‘You are one of us,’ and that fills me with pride.”

Reminiscing about his early career, the actor shared, “I began my journey from a studio in Kolkata  though I can’t recall its name now. I was selected for FTII by Mrinal Sen, and Jagat Murari saab, the then principal, also came to Kolkata for my interview.”

Sinha praised the evolution of KIFF under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, saying the festival has retained the true spirit of cinema unlike many others in India. “While some festivals have faded away, KIFF has kept its ‘aan, baan, shaan’ intact. Like Durga Puja, it now enjoys international recognition because of Mamata Banerjee’s vision. Filmmakers from nearly 40 countries are participating — that’s no small feat,” he said.

Amid ongoing discussions about Bengali identity beyond Bengal, the “Bihari Babu” said, “Bengali is such a sweet language. Its art and culture have flourished under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.”

Fondly recalling his experience of working in Goutam Ghose’s ‘Antarjali Yatra’, Sinha called it one of his finest films. When asked if his daughter Sonakshi Sinha might act in Bengali films, he laughed and said, “Her father has worked in Bengali cinema. One of her best films, Lootere, was shot here  so you never know.”