Indian filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s film, Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan, has made headlines at the South Asian International Film Festival of Florida (SAIFFF) by winning three prestigious awards: Best Director, Best Actress, and Audience Choice Best Film.
The biopic, which celebrates the story of the legendary Bengali theatre icon Binodini Dasi, attracted a lively audience at the NCG Theatre in Tampa, with tickets selling out in just ten minutes. Viewers praised the film for its engaging storytelling and vivid portrayal of a past era, earning it enthusiastic applause and acclaim from both the jury and festival-goers.
Rukmini Maitra, the lead actress, received the Best Actress award for her impressive portrayal of Binodini Dasi. Mukherjee was honored as Best Director, marking his first international recognition for this project. The Audience Choice Award was awarded to producers Prateek Chakravorty from Pramod Films and Dev Adhikari from Dev Entertainment Ventures, who supported this ambitious project.
Aryan Vaid, a Bollywood actor and former Mr. India and Mr. International, accepted the Best Director award on Mukherjee’s behalf. He expressed his excitement, stating, “I am thrilled to see Ram Kamal’s Bengali debut gain such esteemed recognition. Having known him from his days at Stardust magazine, and seeing his National Award-winning success with Ek Duaa, this moment is well-deserved. I was also happy to see my co-actor Rahul Bose in the film. Congratulations to Ram, Rukmini, and the whole team.”
In response to his wins, Ram Kamal Mukherjee expressed deep gratitude, sharing, “Winning the Best Director award at SAIFFF holds special meaning for me. It is immensely rewarding to see Rukmini Maitra’s efforts recognized on an international stage. I also feel thrilled for my producers, Prateek and Dev, whose support and commitment made this challenging project possible.”
Produced by Prateek Chakravorty and Dev Adhikari, in collaboration with Assorted Motion Pictures, Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan premiered in India on January 23, 2025, with the SAIFFF screening marking its debut in the United States.
