The IFFI nod proves hard work and honesty still matter, says Ram Kamal Mukherjee

Filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan has earned him a nominatiom for Best Debutant Director at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) – a moment he says feels both humbling and surreal.
Excerpts from an interaction:

‘It felt surreal to see my name in the nominee list’
Talking about his nomination, Ram Kamal admits the news caught him off-guard. “It came as a surprise! Over 2,000 films from nearly 40 countries were submitted, so when my film not only got selected, but nominated, it felt overwhelming,” he revealed. Competing with big-budget productions, the nomination at IFFI proved that passion towards filmmaking triumphs over the scale of the film. “For a Bengali film made with love and a limited budget to find its place there is a huge boost to the entire team,” he adds. Set to attend the screening and award ceremony in Goa later this month, Ram Kamal reflects, “IFFI has always been a coveted platform for filmmakers. Being nominated for my debut Bengali feature feels like a dream and a reminder that hard work and honesty still count.”
‘I wanted Binodiini to look larger-than-life’
Based on the life of stage icon Nati Binodini, the film stars Rukmini Maitra in the titular role, with Kaushik Ganguly, Rahul Bose, and Chandan Roy Sanyal in key parts. “It was vital for me to understand the cultural and emotional fabric of the story,” says Ram Kamal. “You can’t make Binodiini in any other language, its essence lies in Bengal’s soil, theatre & emotion.” The film drew mixed reactions. “Some found it glorified, but global audiences loved its visual storytelling,” he says. For him, experimentation is essential, adding that his next film, Lokkhikantopur Local, will be nothing like Binodiini.