DUKIEdited : Abhipsha Sarkar
ANOTHER FILM CITY IN BENGAL
Have u wondered that can there be another film city in india other than Ramoji Film City at Hyderabad?. Yes, there can be another more at Duki, Prayag which most of us are ignorant. So let’s stride into the unknown film city of Bengal.The Prayag Film City or the Bengal film City is an integrated film city located at Chandrakona, West Midnapore, 165km from Kolkata. Built by the Prayag Group, it is the second largest film city over an area of 1,600 acres complex and one stop entertainment opened for the public.
Considered as a one stop destination for any film fanatic specially a director, who can walk inside it with a dream and come out with a movie in hand.
The film city has now been one of the tourist spots with a twist of romantic haunted environment which has become standstill on date. It comprises of the lookalike as the normal city with the temple, church, park arena, and other places of interest.
This film city has the identical picture of a well planned city with market complex, temple, church, mosque, flat apartment, railway station, park, airport and innumerable spots to enjoy one. Everyone has a strong will to spent time there but there was apartment, flats and all other structures are structured of iron finishes with plywood.
The railway station at the film city reminds us about the last scene of DDLJ with the dialogue “JA SIMRAN JA, JI LE APNI ZINDAGI” where Kajol runs towards Shah Rukh Khan who is already on train that is leaving the platform.
It only announces us the departure of Howrah-Sealdah local train at 6pm but unfortunately the time clock at the station stood still at 5.30 pm only unknowing the name of the station. It seems very interesting to know that the time on the clock above is gonna fixed all although out irrespective of the timings of day and night. The rail premisess ia same to same as the real one with rest rooms, lines, enquiry, ticketing counter, a replica of train, car shed, but one will not got the chance of listening to the real announcement of arrival and departure of trains. There are different types of trains introduced by IRCTC but one will got to see the train with a tyre like a bike or car without any railway lines. The buildings like the staff room or the station master room were made of board and some of cement or iron depending upon the need of the director.
After moving a little distance far, there is a church situated where no prayer service ceremony or any Christian rituals take place or will ever going happen here. This church is without any god but only the structure is made here. One should be very consious on going inside as the buildings are made many years back so some of the parts needs reconstruction otherwise it gonna be a fatal to the tourists inside.
Next attraction is the Mosque, if one finds the missing of the Islam religion do visit this structure. The mosque is fully copied of the real one that u will be left out to undifferentiate between the real and the reel one. The film city is far away from the communal tension between religion and the main cause is the presence of the religious god here. The city will never be witnessing the real communal tension owing to religious.
This is applicable to every forms of religious place inside the city.
Changing the taste of the film city, lets come to the shooting spot of SHOLAY which reminds of the dialogue “CHAL DHANNO, AJJ TERI BASANTI KI IZZAT KA SAWAL HAI” and also Veer shouting to Basanti with the dialogue “ BASANTI, IN KUTTO KE SAMNE MAT NACHNA!”. The broken bullock cart reminds us about the SHOLAY movie where Basanti left and ran to escape from hilarious GABBAR SINGH. The setting is such realistic that one will find the real set of the movie SHOLAY.
Shifting to Chinese empire, there is a Chinese shooting place, welcoming us grandly in traditional Chinese way.
The presence of dragons, monastery, pagoda reminds us about our neighbouring countries ‘CHINA’. It would be a scope for the travel lovers to sneak peak into the traditions and culture of China by the presence of many Chinese structural monuments. Built millions years ago, some of the structures lost their original colour combination or broken parts, otherwise the surroundings would look more vibrant. There has been a broken structure of a ferocius dragon. There’s a lot to explore there, so I thought to left to the visitors to find the next exploration.
Did u all remembered the film “BAHUBAALI – BEGINNING AND CONCLUSION” directed by S.S.RAJAMOULI by South Indian Actor PRABHAS who won our hearts by its splendid acting skills. This city has also the lookalike structures of the film with the giant elephants on the entrance welcoming you to the Kingdom of Mahesmati. Large entrance of palace gates helps to co-relates us to the history of cholas and other kingdoms who ruled at different parts of India. It also marks the outstanding architect skills of artisans and craftsman of those times which now only left us to enjoy the beauty.
Moving ahead you will get to see a palace with a beautiful garden and a pond with water which could be used as a weapon against the enemies attacking the empire. Leaving traces of many years, these places has been a home of many insects like bees and many others.
Now, lets explore some western culture in India with the presence of Harry Potter and some roman cultures and traditions. There are many structures representing those days and helps us to get back to know about its origin. There is an area of light and sound but now it has been left out abandoned.
The auditorium in the film city will surely mesmerised us with the advanced development of science and technology even during those days. With the scientist of those days have structured with the echoing process which any events could be easily carried out without microphone. More things needs to explore once you get to that place through your own eyes.
When we discuss about Bengali tradition, there must be the presence of any religious/worship centres, so like here we get to have a glimpse of Kali Temple with all the accessories needed for the puja. Though there still exists a idol of goddess kali inside the temple.
Since childhood, we all have a dream to experience the flight trip so, if one has a great desire to such must visit here. Here is a one flight standstill all time just to shoot that someone is coming or going abroad or vice versa.
There are some unexplored places inside the city which are not such nicely maintained by the authority on date. This is left entirely upon the visitors to find out the new areas of interest. Once, there must be some fireout due to which many shooting spots have ground to dust. There are innumerable spots which I entirely left for the travellers to visit and let me know the new spots as I am too a travel lover.
The film city has witnessed the shooting of many films like “JHODDA”, “COMMANDO 2”, “PARBONA AMI CHARTE TOKE”, “BEGUM JAAN”, “HABU CHANDRA RAJAR GOBU CHANDRA MONTRI” and many on the list. These film city surroundings also reminds us about the film“ GOPI GYAN BAGHA BYAN”.
Do comment your perspective upon visting the film city. Eagerly waiting for your response.
ABHIPSA SARKAR
