Bengali feature film turns to crowdfunding

New Delhi: A Bengali feature film has turned to crowdfunding to raise a sum of Rs 8 lakhs following a spate of rejections after they refused to take the commercial route -- an action scene here, a romantic angle there and a song.

"Bultir Result" directed by Pinaki Sarkar is a story of a small-town girl Bulti, from Badkulla, who scores the highest marks in West Bengal's board examinations.

What ensues is a media frenzy in her village, shedding light on two problems -- the TRP hungry media and its insensitivity and the flaws in our education system.

Having managed to raise Rs 3,28,416, the film has 11 more days to raise the remaining amount.

"The film, at its core, will take you through the life of a middle-class Bengali household. And through that core, the audience will witness other issues such as how news-hungry media organizations let go of integrity for TRPs, as well as the faulty education system of Bengal, its loopholes and how education has become a business commodity rather than a service to society," the crew of the film said.

Sarkar said the film was inspired from a real life event when one his friends working as a television anchor returned home after working with a topper child, who was on the floor filming, without any food and rest.

"Just thinking about how pitiless the media can be really bothered me. And that was the real-life inspiration behind the story of 'Bultir Result'," Sarkar said.

If the team manages to raise the required amount, they said that out of the Rs 8 lakhs, Rs 3,00,000 would be used for audio post production, Rs 4,00,000 in visual post production and the remaining Rs 1,00,000 will cover the administrative costs.

Being the first Bengali feature film to take to crowdfunding, the film will also carry English subtitles.

The makers are also looking to participate in national as well as international film festivals before releasing it in theatres and digital platforms.