The 'Angry Young Man' of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan, is being honoured with an exhibition dedicated to his life and career at the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
One of the main draws in the exhibition has been a section dedicated to highlighting the growth of Bachchan showcasing his parts in movies such as Zanjeer (1973), Deewar (1975), Sholay (1975), Kala Pathar (1979) and Shakti (1982), which established him as the 'Angry Young Man' of Bollywood.
Rising unemployment, price increases, crime, the resulting societal unrest, and the protagonist's fight against the'system' were common themes in these films released in the 1970s and 1980s that established the 'Big B' as the reigning 'Shahenshah of India and Asia's movie world.
"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee first broached the idea of doing something as a mark of gratitude to Big B," exhibition organiser and KIFF office-bearer Sudeshna Roy told news agency PTI, "and KIFF chairperson Raj Chakraborty and others decided to hold the show." On Thursday, Bachchan, who turned 80 earlier this year, opened the 28th edition of the film festival.
"Since early times, there have been many changes in cinema content... from mythical films and socialist cinema to the arrival of the angry young man... to the current kind of historicals, couched in fictionalised jingoism, combined with moral policing," the famed actor stated at the inaugural. The actor further stated that "issues on civil liberties and freedom" are still being raised by Indian cinema, PTI quoted the actor as saying.
For the first time, KIFF is hosting an exhibition about a living legend. Previously, similar exhibitions on legends such as Satyajit Ray, Soumitra Chatterjee, Ingmar Bergman, and Akira Kurosawa were presented.
The show, which is taking place at two locations in Gaganendra Pradarshansala and Nazrul Tirtha, will be on display until December 22.
Other portions of the exhibition cover Bachchan's childhood, his work in the business sector as an executive at Bird & Company in Kolkata and his family's ties with Jawaharlal Nehru, his debut into politics in 1984, and his political career ups and downs till 1987.
It also depicts his comeback to the film industry and his subsequent success.
A segment also depicts Bachchan as a family man, including images of the wife and their two children in their youth.
Jaya Bachchan, who co-starred in Abhimaan with Big B, opened the exhibition on Friday.
(With Inputs From PTI)