Bhubaneswar-based filmmaker Amartya Bhattacharyya, who is known for his Odia feature film Capital I, participated in the 13th BYOFF in Puri with his fantasy documentary Benaras-the unexplored attachments.
Though the film was officially selected and screened at festivals in Europe, Canada and the US, this is the first screening of the film in the State.
The film is based on the ancient city named ‘Varanasi’ situated on the banks of river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. It is the holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism, and Jainism, and the city is said to have played an important role in the development of Buddhism.
The film is not based on information or realistic facts. The treatment is fictional, where the city is juxtaposed as a lady love, as seen from the perspective of a young lover who comes to meet her, and explore her. The film is all about an egoistic personification and based on personal interpretations of gender intimacy.
Regarding BYOFF, Bhattacharya said, “This is my fourth consecutive year at the BYOFF and this is a very homely informal gathering. It is an independent festival in its true sense.” Since BYOFF is not backed by the Government, the corporate or any other external entities, it is not manipulated by any influence, and is a democratic platform in a true sense, he added.
He is currently working on his next Odia feature film ‘The lost Idea’.