IRS officer’s debut movie screened at Kolkata International Film Festival

With “Kathakar Ki Diary: The Story of Ordinary Lives,” which debuted at the current 31st Kolkata International Film Festival, a serving Indian Revenue Service officer made a unique transition from tax administration to filmmaking. “Kathakar Ki Diary,” which has its roots in West Bengal but has an international appeal, centers on five characters: a toddler, a photographer with cancer, a singer, a transwoman, and an athlete. It delves into themes of human connection, variety, and resiliency.

Anwesh, the filmmaker, is presently employed at the Pune GST department as a Joint Commissioner. His movie was shown in the KIFF’s Asian Select Netpac category.

“Cinema has always been my way of understanding people and their struggles. I wanted to tell stories that mirror ordinary lives — quiet yet powerful,” he told PTI.

The film has already earned international recognition — winning Best Film at the International New York Film Festival , Best Film at the Director’s Cut Film Festival in Canada and British Columbia, and Best International Feature Film at the Director’s Cut International Film Festival, Vancouver, Anwesh claimed.

The movie, which took two and a half years to complete, had a “crowd-funded” budget of less than $15,000. Members of the Hill Kharia group were among the more than 200 independent and tribal artists that willingly contributed to the project.

This film belongs to every artist who believed in the story, not in money,” Anwesh said, expressing gratitude after the screening.

National Award-winning editor Aseem Sinha was so moved by the script that he offered to edit the film without charge, the IRS officer-turned-director said.

Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, after a private viewing, described the film as “deeply human and emotionally rich,” Anwesh said.

A trained performing artist with a Master’s degree, Chatterjee balances his administrative duties with his creative calling.

“Being in the IRS taught me about structure and empathy; filmmaking taught me how to listen. Both, in their own ways, are about serving people,” said Anwesh.