Bonding in Bangkok

Today evening went to attend a dinner hosted by the local Bengali community. Tony, Pauli Dam and others were there with me. Dhritiman Chatterjee and others from Ekta Tarar Khonje team Arpita, Shayan Munshi were also there. The movie was slated for screening at the IMAX in Bangkok but got cancelled. After giving away the awards yesterday I had an adda session with this team in the auditorium (picture) before coming to the hotel with another group of friends for dinner at Hotel Lotos Banquet in Soi 3 at Sukumvit.The local community members were elated to see so many Bangla film stars together.It was a light evening where everyone performed starting with filmy dialogues to light jokes etc., Saheb sang a song while Suuchanndra sang a Rabindra Sangeet.

The Indian ambassador to Thailand, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty and his wife Radha Chakravarty, were also there throughout the evening. I met both of them yesterday at the IMAX just before the Award function with Aparna Sen (picture). Though I knew Radha Chakravarty from before as she had translated the work of Bangladeshi poet Razia Rahman that was incorporated in the book - An Anthology of Asian Women Writers - realeased in Kolkata by Prabha Khaitan Foundation at the end of January 2010 in association with the India International Centre. She requested a copy of that book which I am going to send her. She also discussed with me about her recent work on Tagore which she is doing with the Harvard University.

The hosts were very warm and hospitable. I have noticed during my overseas travels that anything that goes back to the roots excite the NRIs who become very emotional when it comes to sharing a common bond.

I gave interviews to the local magazine Masala and reached Hyatt back just a while back.

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