Press Coverage

Ei Samay Print Edition - 7 Nov 2025

“There is another Kolkata within this Kolkata.” Even though times have changed, Shankha Ghosh’s Babumoshai still feels just as relevant. A short walk reveals the city’s many faces. Among them, you come across a few wanderers. And not just in Kolkata—you find them across small and large towns throughout the country. Where do these wanderers live, what do they eat through the day to survive? And exactly how much money does it take to buy them off? To put it bluntly, a small amount of cash and some intoxicants are often enough to “win them over.” But what happens after that? That is what Sagnik Dutta set out to explore.

The short film Acts of Kindness, created by a Kolkata boy, presents a different picture of the city. This fifteen-minute short has been selected for the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival. It is competing in the Indian Short Film Competition section. The story is set in Kolkata, though its inspiration lies in Bengaluru. Last year, a middle-class couple murdered a homeless man. News reports stated that the murdered wanderer had been “lured.” That story shook the director. He decided to shift the setting to Kolkata and tell a similar story—where a couple “wins over” a wanderer with a little money and intoxicants, then begins making him do various tasks.

At first it seems like an act of kindness, but another story gradually emerges. In the director’s words, “Our film’s story is different, only the trigger is the same. And it’s not just Bengaluru—Mumbai, Kolkata, any big city, you see many people sleeping on the streets. Many might be addicted too. I’ve often wondered what their stories really are.”

The film was shot guerrilla-style across various parts of Kolkata. Sagnik Mukherjee, Mouli Roy, and Sayan Royan appear in the film. Speaking about the shoot, Sagnik said, “I wanted to capture the real image of the city. Sometimes a setup fails to deliver the real essence. Budget was also a factor. The guerrilla approach worked well. There are scenes where the actor is actually begging. At one spot, he even received 23 rupees.”

The 31st KIFF will be the first public screening of his short film. Sagnik has previously made four short films, but this time success has arrived. Acts of Kindness will compete with 18 other Indian short films in the competition section. The film will be shown today, Friday, at Sisir Mancha, and again on Monday at Nandan 3.

- Anjan Chakrabarty, Ei Samay 7 Nov 2025

Ei Samay Online Edition - 5 Nov 2025

“A film screening at the Kolkata Film Festival! For new directors, such an opportunity is one of the greatest achievements. Every year, as winter begins, this celebration of cinema in the city helps many people see their dreams come true. This year, a long-held wish is about to be fulfilled for filmmaker Sagnik Dutta. His short film Act of Kindness has been selected in the “Competition for Short Film” category.

Sagnik is an architect by profession. Filmmaking is his passion. He has made several short films before, but this is the first time one of his films has been selected for a festival. He shared that the screenings will take place on 7 and 10 November at Sisir Mancha and Nandan 3 respectively. How many attempts did it take for his film to be selected? Sagnik says, “I had submitted films earlier too, but they didn’t get selected. This time it did. I’m extremely happy.”

Not just directing — Sagnik handled the script, editing and even the casting himself. He says, “Yes, I wanted to learn the entire process, which is why I tried to do everything on my own. I must mention the actors in my film separately. Without Sagnik Mukherjee, Mouli Roy and Sayan Royan stepping forward, this would never have been possible.”

Sagnik now wants to make a full-length feature film. The script is ready, but the biggest uncertainty is whether he will find a producer.

- Richa Roy, Ei Samay Online, 5 Nov 2025

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