Avdhut Kamble at 07:16, 18 December 2025

2025-12-18T07:16:56Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian film director and screenwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abhinandan Banerjee
| image = Director Abhinandan Banerjee.jpg
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Film director]], [[Scriptwriter]]
| notable_works = [[Manikbabur Megh]], Marichjhapi
}}

'''Abhinandan Banerjee''' is an Indian [[film director]], [[Screenwriter|scriptwriter]], [[author]], [[essay]]ist, [[Editing|magazine editor]], [[Publishing|publisher]], [[illustrator]], [[Painting|painter]] and [[graphic designer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abhinandan Banerjee – Outsider Pictures |url=https://www.outsiderpictures.us/celebrity/abhinandan-banerjee/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> His debut feature ''[[The Cloud and the Man]]'', which premiered at the 25th [[Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival]], 2021 <ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Manikbabur Megh only Indian film selected for Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival's First Features section |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/oct/14/31715/manikbabur-megh-only-indian-film-selected-for-tallinn-black-nights-film-festival-s-first-features-section |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cloud & the Man |url=https://poff.ee/en/film/the-cloud-the-man/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=poff.ee |language=en}}</ref> won the [[NETPAC Award|NETPAC award]] for Best Asian Film, at the 27th [[Kolkata International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners of 2021 - Kolkata International Film Festival |url=https://kiff.in/archive/2021/winners |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=kiff.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-03 |title=Bengal directors bag top Kolkata International Film Festival awards |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/bengal-directors-bag-top-kolkata-international-film-festival-awards/articleshow/91274688.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Roushni |title=Manikbabur Megh, Adieu Godard, Jhilli win at 27th Kolkata International Film Festival |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2022/may/2/34269/manikbabur-megh-adieu-godard-jhilli-win-at-27th-kolkata-international-film-festival |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Born and brought up in [[Kolkata]], Abhinandan Banerjee studied at [[Barasat Peary Charan Sarkar Government High School]]. Having finished his schooling, he shifted to [[Mumbai]] and went on to study [[Architecture]] under [[University of Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=KIFF : তালিন, গোয়া ঘুরে অবশেষে কলকাতায় অভিনন্দন বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের ছবি 'মানিকবাবুর মেঘ' |url=https://www.bongodorshon.com/home/story_detail/abhinandan-banerjee-s-film-manikbabur-megh-finally-arrives-in-kiff-after-tallinn-goa |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Bongodorshon {{!}} ইতিবাচক বাংলা}}</ref> Later, he would eventually drop out and switch to filmmaking.

At the age of 14, Banerjee started [[writing]] and [[Illustration|illustrating]] for [[newspaper]]s, and [[Little magazine|little magazines.]] Later, at the age of 15, he started his own little magazine as the editor and by the age of 18, he was heading his own [[publication]] house.<ref name=":7" />

== Career ==
Banerjee co-wrote, assisted and post-produced ''[[Teenkahon]]'' (2014) with [[Bauddhayan Mukherji]] that won the Best Screenplay award at the Bridge Film Fest, [[Kosovo]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2014-12-11 |title='Three Obsessions': Goa Film Bazaar Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/three-obsessions-goa-film-bazaar-756643/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was nominated for [[Best Original Screenplay]] of a Foreign Language Film at Madrid International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-01-12 |title=Teenkahon wins 11th international award! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/Teenkahon-wins-11th-international-award/articleshow/46230596.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Banerjee then co-founded the [[Advertising agency|creative agency]] cum [[Producing house|production house]] called Asterisc.

In March 2019, he shot his first feature film ''[[The Cloud and the Man]]'' produced by [[Bauddhayan Mukherji]] and co-produced by Monalisa Mukherji <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kolkata-based director's debut film to be screened at Edinburgh Film Festival |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/lifestyle/kolkata-based-director-abhinandan-banerjees-debut-film-manikbabur-megh-to-be-screened-at-edinburgh-film-festival/cid/1876301 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> that received the special mention at the [[NFDC National Film Awards|NFDC]] Film Bazaar, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Roushni |title=Manikbabu reflects my philosophy, says director Abhinandan Banerjee |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/feb/2/28607/manikbabu-reflects-my-philosophy-says-director-abhinandan-banerjee |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2021-01-21 |title='River of Blood,' 'Ambush,' 'Today Me Tomorrow You' Win Top Prizes at India's Film Bazaar |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/india-film-bazaar-winners-2021-1234889328/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> The film premiered at the First Feature Film competition at [[Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival]], 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2021-10-14 |title=Tallinn Black Nights Competition Films 'The Cloud & the Man,' 'The Red Tree' Get Sales Representation – Global Bulletin |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/tallinn-black-nights-first-features-competition-1235088934/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

''Marichjhapi'', his next collaborative venture with [[Bauddhayan Mukherji]] and Little Lamb Films was chosen to represent India at the Asian Project Market at [[Busan]] 2019 <ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=2019-10-07 |title=Busan: India's Adil Hussain Boards APM Project 'Marichjhapi' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/busan-india-adil-hussain-boards-project-marichjhapi-1203362440/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and Cinéfondation L'Atelier<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-03-12 |title=Bauddhayan Mukherji and his 'Marichjhapi' to travel to Cannes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/bauddhayan-mukherji-and-his-marichjhapi-to-travel-to-cannes/articleshow/74593414.cms |access-date=2023-11-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinéfondation |url=https://www.cinefondation.com/en/atelier/projets/marichjhapi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207065001/https://www.cinefondation.com/en/atelier/projets/marichjhapi |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 December 2022 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=www.cinefondation.com |language=fr}}</ref> at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive! Abhinandan Banerjee's Manikbabur Megh to be screened at Cannes Marchè Du Film |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/exclusive-abhinandan-banerjees-manikbabur-megh-to-be-screened-at-cannes-marche-du-film/370f040a30911 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
The Indian premiere of the film happened at [[52nd International Film Festival of India]] ([[International Film Festival of India|IFFI]]), 2021. ‘[[The Cloud and the Man|Manikbabur Megh]]’ was part of the [[International Film Festival of India|Indian Panorama]] at the [[International Film Festival of India|IFFI]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-06 |title=8 films from Bengal make it to IFFI's 52nd edition in Goa |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/8-films-from-bengal-make-it-to-iffis-52nd-edition-in-goa/articleshow/87548146.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Pragativadi News |date=2021-11-05 |title=Indian Panorama Announces Official Selection For 52nd IFFI 2021 |url=https://pragativadi.com/indian-panorama-announces-official-selection-for-52nd-iffi-2021/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Pragativadi |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was also part of the [[Kaleidoscope]] section at [[International Film Festival of Kerala|26th International Film Festival of Kerala]]. The film had its [[North America]]n premiere at the 37th [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival|Santa Barbara Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=2022-02-10 |title=Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Lineup; Brit Comedy 'The Phantom Of The Open' To Tee It Off |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/santa-barbara-film-festival-lineup-2022-1234930179/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> It was in the Jeffery C. Barbakow International Cinema competing with 11 other films from all over the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-06 |title=Bengali film makes it to int'l festival in America |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/bengali-film-makes-it-to-intl-festival-in-america/articleshow/89979781.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The film was also part of the [[Taipei]] Golden Horse Fantastic Film Festival (金馬影展 TGHFF) 2022 being the only Indian film in the edition line up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival {{!}} 男人與雲 |url=https://goldenhorse.org.tw/film/programme/films/detail/3252?search_year=2022 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=goldenhorse.org.tw |language=zh-TW}}</ref>

The film has been declared as one of the top 10 Indian Films of 2021 by [[International Federation of Film Critics|Fipresci]], India.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2022-04-22 |title=Abhinandan Banerjee's directorial debut to be screened at KIFF |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/%20Link2:%20abhinandan-banerjees-directorial-debut-to-be-screened-at-kiff/articleshow/90999668.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> It was the only Bengali film in the coveted list of top 10 films of 2021 that are in the running for the [[International Federation of Film Critics|Fipresci-India Grand Prix]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Great Indian Kitchen, Barah by Barah among 10 films shortlisted for FIPRESCI-India Grand Prix |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2022/may/4/34294/the-great-indian-kitchen-barah-by-barah-among-10-films-shortlisted-for-fipresci-india-grand-prix |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

Banerjee's [[The Cloud and the Man|Manikbabur Megh]]<ref name=":4" /> also won the [[Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema|NETPAC]] Award for Best Film, at the [[Kolkata International Film Festival|27th Kolkata International Film Festival]]. The [[Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema|NETPAC]] jury, had the following citation for this award - "very artistically tackled this surrealistic romance between a man on earth and a cloud in the sky."<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-03 |title=KIFF doffs a hat to young, indie filmmakers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/kiff-doffs-a-hat-to-young-indie-filmmakers/articleshow/91286968.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-27 |title=Long queues at KIFF venues: Heat fails to cow down movie buffs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/long-queues-at-kiff-venues-heat-fails-to-cow-down-movie-buffs/articleshow/91111031.cms |access-date=2024-07-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

* ''Marichjhapi''
* ''[[Teenkahon]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Manikbabur Megh]]'' (2021)

== Other ventures ==
Since 2019, Banerjee has been designing posters under Asterisc’s banner for a Bengali audio show called Sunday Suspense by [[Radio Mirchi]] and transfigured the aesthetics of the Bengali audio industry like never before.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Preetha |date=2018-12-05 |title=This Bengali radio show's storytelling skills could put even Netflix in the shade |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/901983/this-bengali-radio-shows-storytelling-skills-could-put-even-netflix-in-the-shade |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref> He also wrote and adapted multiple stories for the same show by [[Radio Mirchi]]. With his horror short story ‘Roopkatha’, [https://onlinebanglaradio.com/audio-story/roopkatha-by-abhinandan-banerjee-episode-01/] Mirchi started a new vertical under the show called Sunday Suspense Originals.<ref name=":5" />

His stories have been made into shorts, feature films & platform originals. In Bengali, this included Annapurna Basu’s [[ZEE5|Zee5]] Original 'Saat No. Shanatan Sanyal’ (2019),<ref>{{Cite web |title=কে সেই 'সাত নম্বর সনাতন সান্যাল'? খোঁজ করে বেড়াচ্ছেন কৌশিক |url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/entertainment/cinema/koushi-ganguly-palying-lead-in-sat-nombor-sanatan-sanyals/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=sangbadpratidin |language=en-US}}</ref> and Rajdeep Ghosh’s ‘Shubho Sharodiya’ (TV Movie 2018). In 2023, Banerjee forayed in animation. Presently he is working on three animation shorts under his newly formed boutique house Nandanik Studios.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=দত্ত |first=অভিনন্দন |date=11 July 2024 |title='যাঁদের সঙ্গে দেখা হয়, তাঁদের সিংহভাগ ছবি তৈরির বদলে নিজেদের পরিচিতি তৈরি করতে ব্যস্ত!' |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/a-candid-chat-with-director-abhinandan-banerjee-before-the-release-of-his-first-film-manikbabur-megh-dgtl/cid/1530115 |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Anandabazar Patrika}}</ref> Also, he is presently working on his next [[Hindi]] [[web series]] & [[Feature film|features]],<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=After Manikbabur Megh, Abhinandan Banerjee to start his Hindi web series with the makers of Maharani {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/after-manikbabur-megh-abhinandan-banerjee-to-start-his-hindi-web-series-with-the-makers-of-maharani-exclusive/9fb5beb4b391 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref> other animation projects, upcoming books & graphic novels, and a new game for children.<ref name=":6" />

==Awards==
* [[8th Filmfare Awards Bangla|Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025]] – Best Film (Critics') for ''[[Manikbabur Megh]]'' (Shared with [[Anjan Dutt]] for ''Chalchitra Akhon'')<ref name=":8">{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-bangla-and-glamour-style-awards-2025/bangla-winners |title=Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025 Winners - Complete List Out! }}</ref>
* [[8th Filmfare Awards Bangla|Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025]] – Best Lyrics for ''Tomar Amar Golpo Hoto Jodi from ''[[Manikbabur Megh]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Filmfare Awards Bangla|Filmfare Awards Bangla 2025]] – Best Original Story for ''[[The Cloud and the Man|Manikbabur Megh]]''<ref name=":8" />

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Twitter|id=abhinandantales}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banerjee, Abhinandan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Bengali film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards Bangla winners]]

Abhinandan Banerjee - Revision history

Avdhut Kamble at 07:16, 18 December 2025