Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee’s short film screened at the House of Commons

Interdisciplinary artiste Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee was recently invited to the House of Commons in the British Parliament for the screening of his short film HOME. The film is inspired by a poem by poet Arundhathi Subramaniam.

The event drew a select, eclectic audience and was followed by an engaging discussion exploring the layered themes of the film and the global positioning of Bengali cinema. The session was chaired by MP Rupa Huq, who steered the dialogue alongside Jonathan Kennedy, Programme Lead of the Venice Biennale; Koushik Chatterjee, President of Bengal Heritage Foundation; and Suranjan Som. The screening prompted a rich exchange with attendees delving into the political undertones of the film and its relevance to diaspora narratives and cultural displacement.

Among the audience was Rohit K Dasgupta, assistant professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science, who highlighted the shifting content dynamics in Bengali cinema and the challenges of segment mapping within the industry. “House of Commons is not only a prestigious venue but also the melting pot of British politics. I am glad my film has evoked some very important premises that relate to the diaspora and their expressions. It's not a gender war anymore but the battle of identity,” said Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, reflecting on the reception of his film. Following this milestone, Chatterjee is set to continue his UK tour with a series of performances and cultural engagements across the country.