Columbia Tristar to distribute Bengali film

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), the Indian distribution arm of Columbia Tristar, has tied up with the producers Planman Life to distribute the Bengali film ‘Saanjhbaatir Roopkathara,’ or ‘Strokes and Silhouettes.’
The tie-up has been described as “historic,” as this is the first time an international banner has ventured into regional films.
“Bengal is known for its rich and prolific film history, with great talents coming from there,” said Columbia Tristar managing director Uday Singh in a press statement.
“We are delighted with this tie-up as it gives us an excellent opportunity to interact with the enormous creativity that India has.”
The film, starring Soumitra Chatterjee and Indrani Haldar, revolves around a sensitive father-daughter relationship. It will first be distributed in the Bengali speaking parts of the country before an all-India release is considered. The film is expected to hit the theaters next month. Based on a novel by Joy Goswami, the film has been directed by Anjan Das and produced by Sandeep Sen of Deep Films and Arindam Chaudhari of Planman Life.
The Rs. 5 million ($106,382) venture explores how a girl’s beliefs are tested when she steps out of her sheltered life under her painter-father’s eye. The girl finds her outlook wavering, but realizes the sublime beauty of creation and how the petty patchwork of human life fades into insignificance.