In a monumental stride for Indian cinema, “Devi Chowdhurani,” starring the illustrious Prosenjit Chatterjee alongside Srabanti Chatterjee, has become the first Bengali film to be accorded official Indo-UK co-production status by both governments. This landmark collaboration underscores the deepening cultural and creative ties between India and the United Kingdom, setting a new precedent in international film production.
Produced by Aparna and Aniruddha Dasgupta of Adited Motion Pictures (USA/India) in conjunction with Soumyajit Majumdar of LOK Arts Collective (India/UK), “Devi Chowdhurani” is directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Subhrajit Mitra. The film, adapted from the classic novel by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, chronicles the life of India’s first female freedom fighter and is set to feature a mesmerizing musical score by globally renowned composer Pandit Bickram Ghosh. The UK co-producers of this ambitious film project ( one of the biggest in Bengali cinema) are HC Films and Moringa Studios.
The magnum opus along with “Joyguru” ( film based on the life of internationally acclaimed mystic and singer Parvathy Baul) , the recently announced flagship Indo-USA-UK-France co-production are the first two films from the collaboration slate of Adited Motion Pictures and LOK Arts Collective with a focus on global Indian cinema.
The recognition of “Devi Chowdhurani” as an official co-production is a testament to the robust cultural diplomacy efforts between India and the UK, facilitated by the Indo-UK film co-production treaty signed in 2007.
On October 16, 2023, the concepts of both “Devi Chowdhurani” and the forthcoming musical pan-India Hindi feature film “Joyguru” was shared by Soumyajit Majumdar at a historic reception at the Guildhall. Hosted by Mr. Munsur Ali, London City Corporation Chairman of Culture, Heritage, and Libraries, the event was graced by a distinguished assembly of delegates from the Cultural Ministries of both India and the UK. The assembly included Ms. Lily Pandey, Joint Secretary Culture and co-chair of the G20 culture working group (contingent leader), Ms. Hayley Raines (Team Lead, Cultural Diplomacy DCMS, United Kingdom), Mr. Vivek Gupta (Director, Ministry of Culture, India), Dr. Anirban Dash, Director, National Manuscripts Mission of India, Ms. Kanupriya Bhatter (Lead Consultant Cultural Projects and Partnerships, G20 Culture Working Group, India), Adrian Chadwick, Regional Director British Council (South Asia), and Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and North East India & in-post UK Lead for G20 Culture track.
This reception highlighted the significance of such Indo-UK collaborations in fostering and strengthening cultural bonds between the two nations. The esteemed delegates expressed enthusiastic support for these projects, recognizing their potential to enhance cultural diplomacy and mutual understanding.
The Indian authorities instrumental in this landmark decision include the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, NFDC ( National Film Development Corporation), FFO ( Film Facilitation Office), and Invest India, with the British Film Institute (BFI) and DCMS ( Department of Culture, Media and Sports) representing the UK.
“Devi Chowdhurani,” now in the early post-production phase, is eagerly anticipated by audiences worldwide. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Arjun Chakraborty, Darshana Banik, Bibriti Chatterjee, and Kinjal Nanda, the film promises to be a cinematic tour de force.
As the first Bengali film to achieve official Indo-UK co-production status, “Devi Chowdhurani” not only celebrates India’s rich heritage and its struggle for independence but also sets a new benchmark for future Indo-UK cinematic endeavors, heralding a new era of global film production excellence.
Joint statement from Aparna and Aniruddha Dasgupta ( Adited Motion Pictures) :
“This recognition for ‘Devi Chowdhurani’ as the first Bengali film to receive official Indo-UK co-production status is a dream come true for us at ADited Motion Pictures. It represents not just a significant achievement in our filmmaking journey but also a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and historical bonds between India and the UK. Collaborating with Soumyajit and LOK Arts Collective, along with the incredible support from both governments, has been an inspiring and humbling experience. This project is a testament to the power of storytelling in bridging cultures and creating something truly remarkable. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has believed in and supported this vision. We can’t wait for audiences around the world to witness the magic of ‘Devi Chowdhurani’ and the story of India’s first female freedom fighter brought to life on the big screen.”
Soumyajit Majumdar ( LOK Arts Collective) adds: ” At LOK our vision has always been to take local stories from India especially from our home state West Bengal to the global film market and international co-productions are vital in this regard. With dynamic producer duo Aparna and Aniruddha Dasgupta of Adited Motion Pictures, we found like-hearted partners having a shared vision and it’s so encouraging to know that ‘ Devi Chowdhurani ‘our first film collaboration has attained the feat of an official Indo-UK co-production with the guidance of the FFO-India and BFI -UK. I feel honored to have shared about our magnum opus at the iconic Indo-UK cultural ministry delegation reception at Guildhall in London.”
Prasenjit Chatterjee proudly quipped: “I’m delighted to be a pivotal part and lead male protagonist of Devi Chowdhurani ( Bandit Queen Of Bengal ), directed by Subhrajit Mitra and produced by Adited Motion Pictures and LOK Arts Collective which has been granted the status and coined as the first Indo – UK Co-Production for any Bengali language film, by both the governments through the I&B Ministry, NFDC, FFO, and Invest India from India and BFI, DCMS from UK jointly. This will pave a new path for the regional film industries and promote Indian films which are rooted to her rich cultural and historical heritage. I wish this initiative all the very best. “
