KOLKATA: The 19th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will open with the screening of an unreleased film of the iconic Rituparno Ghosh, amid the presence of a galaxy of stars including the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

“Ritu da is no more with us. But he continues to live with his immortal creations. His unreleased film Taak Jhaank (Sunglass) will be screened for the first time in the inaugural ceremony of the 19th Kolkata International Film Festival on that day,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Ghosh’s satire Taak Jhaank brings together the two veterans of Bollywood - Jaya Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah for the very first time. Ghosh died 30 May following a heart attack.

The film festival to be inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan on 10 November would be graced by a number of luminaries including megastar Shah Rukh Khan - also the state’s brand ambassador as well and versatile actor Kamal Hassan.

Incidentally, the opening day of the fest will coincide with the international Test Match between India and West Indies at the Eden Gardens where batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will be appearing for the last time before he hangs up his boots after playing the next - his 200th in Mumbai.

Kolkata will be honoured to have a very eventful day on 10 November. The cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar will be playing the last day of his 199th Test match at the Eden Gardens on that day. Kolkata's showpiece event, the KIFF will also be held on that day in the august presence of iconic Amitabh ji, Shah Rukh and Kamal Hassan. We are so lucky to have the presence of all those luminaries on a single day at Kolkata,” added Banerjee.