Kolkata fest felicitates five Bollywood actresses

As the curtains came down on the 19th Kolkata International Film Festival yesterday, the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee felicitated Bollywood actresses Moushumi Chatterjee, Sushmita Sen, Rani Mukerji, Bipasha Basu and Bengali actress Koel Mullick with the Panch-Kanya (Five Women) award that went along with a shawl and uttariyas for their contribution to cinema. The Chief Minister exhorted the film stars working in Mumbai to do something for Bengal particularly Tollywood, and promised that her government would do its best to help the industry. "You do not forget about Bengal because you are basically from this state. We will bring the golden era back to Bengal, be it education, culture, industry...in every field Bengal will bounce back and occupy the place of pride," Mamata has been quoted to have said. Observed Sushmita Sen, "Thank you Mamata di. We are a huge admirer of the human courage and the conviction that you have. It is very special to say I am from Bengal and from your state." Stating that Banerjee had transformed Kolkata, Rani Mukerji said, "As a Bengali, I am very proud that she is running Bengal and she is an inspiration to a lot of women. Please keep inspiring us like this." Later, the festival authorities handed over a cheque for Rs 4.98 lakh to Mamata, collected from the sale proceeds, as contribution to the CM's relief fund. Also, a part of the amount was handed over to the Film Workers' Relief Fund.