Panel discussion on "Filming Fiction: Tagore , Premchand and Ray"

Still from Ray's Charulata (1964), based on a story by Tagore

On the opening day- the 25th of February the afternoon session in the cinema pavilion was a panel discussion on the book Filming Fiction: Tagore, Premchand and Ray. The book addresses the mutual relationship between literature and film in the Indian context involving three iconic figures -- Rabindranath Tagore, Premchand and Satyajit Ray. The discussion that revolved around the theme of the book was held between Anuradha Ghosh, Brinda Bose, Shohini Ghosh and Ira Bhaskar who put forth their stands on the film versus adaptation debate. 

The discussion ended on a consensual note that cinema and literature are two different forms, each enjoying its distinct character which is brought for by an "adaptation". A film adaptation of a literary piece is constantly in conversation with it, as it reiterates it's cultural or aesthetic significance.