It may sound cynical but true that a film festival of international standard is not meant for all.It's, in fact, meant for serious cine goers.Normally,best films from different countries of the world are selected for viewing in such festivals.So only selected audience who can appreciate these films are supposed to attend these festivals.Any attempt to make it people's festival is an useless exercise.Solemnity and sobriety of these festivals should be maintained from very beginning to end.So due weitage should be accorded to its inaugural ceremony also.An endeavor to inculcate a spirit of a carnival in the recent inaugural function of Kolkata film festival was unfortunate.It really looked odd and shocking too when people in large numbers left the venue as soon as the Amitava Bacchan and Saha Rukh Khan along with host of other Bollywood stars left the function.They didn't care to view the film screened later.It was as if a mega function of Bollywood stars rather than a solemn occasion of inaugural function of an International Film festival.If such a trend continues Kolkata film festival that has reached a covetable standard over the years would reduce to a carnival in real sense of the term.
