KOLKATA: In an emerging new trend, many celebs are becoming the 'face' of big ticket community Pujas in the city.
Actor Rituparna Sengupta is the 'face' of Brahmapur Agradoot Club this time which has themed its puja on the 100 years of Indian Cinema, starting from the era of bioscope.
Rituparna, whose look in the upcoming comedy 'Pati Parameswar' has been retained as the 'face' of the puja, said, "The organisers told me I could be the perfect mascot for their puja since Durga Puja is all about 'Bengaliness' and I am one of the longest serving actors in Tollywood."
Rituparna also is a regular at the inauguration of the puja at Suhrid Sangha, her childhood locality puja, of which she is the brand ambassador.
"This is more for emotional reasons," the Paromatiar Ekdin actor gushed.
"I think since pujas are witnessed by lakhs, it is a natural progression that Bengal's community pujas will be tagged with the icons in the entertainment industry," superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee said.
The reigning actor having over a three-decade long celluloid journey behind him, adorns the banners of Naktala Udayan Sangha, the Puja known to be patronised by state minister Partha Chatterjee.
The organisers have invited Prosenjit and his team of the upcoming movie 'Force' for events lined up during the five day festivities.
"Durga Puja is the right platform to tell the pandal hoppers, who include movie buffs, to watch an upcoming movie with the audience seeing the stars in front of them," Force director Raja Chanda said. Danseuse-actor Mamata Shankar has become the 'face' of Gariahat Road West Puja, a new entrant in the emerging trend.
"Durga Puja is the biggest socio-cultural festival and we wish to project the matrilineal society of Nagaland in our puja," Mrinal Sen and Ray's favourite actress said.
Mamata Shankar is assisted by percussionist Tanmoy Bose and son Ratul to execute the concept where her dance troupe members would perform before the revellers to the accompaniment of music during certain hours of the puja.
Celebrity singer-lyricist couple Joy Sarkar-Lopamudra Mitra have debuted their stint with the Kolkata Puja by becoming brand ambassadors of the Adi Lake Pally Puja.
"As residents of this locality for a couple of years, we readily agreed when the organisers approached us and insisted the puja will not deviate from aesthetics and 'parampara'. We are introducing a South Indian temple as theme," said the 'Beni Madhav' and 'Oi Go Maa Durga' singer.
"Unfortunately Lopa will be away visiting the Banga Utsab circuit in the US and Europe during the puja days, but she had been all along from unveiling the logo, theme music to attending the meetings in the run up to the festivities. I will be present in the locality in her absence," said Joy.
Composer Jeet Ganguly is again the 'Face' of state minister Arup Biswas' Suruchi Sangha this year.
"I have also composed the Biswa-Shanti theme of Suruchi this year," Ganguly, whose Bachchan track is topping the charts, said.
Eminent vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan has also become the 'face' of Tridhara Sammilani and devised its theme.