Last month finally saw Onir’s 2023 film receive the recognition in the director’s hometown, Calcutta. Post the screening of the film at the American Center, an after-party in association with t2 was hosted at Lord of the Drinks, South City mall. The soiree was hosted by Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee and Vanita Bajoria and saw a select set of guests in attendance. Besides Onir being present, the cast of Pine Cone including Hanun Bawra and Aniket Ghosh were also present.

Hanun who plays Sid in the film said: “This is my first time in Calcutta. I went to Victoria Memorial and Rabindra Sarobar. I had heard a lot and I understand why. Calcutta is a city best enjoyed the way it is, unlike Delhi and Mumbai which needs to move to show itself as a city. I love that the city rests and is not in a hurry. Pine Cone is my first film that has released and it was a beautiful experience working with someone like Onir.”

Sandeepta Das, Myna Mukherjee, Shruti Das

Aniket, who hails from Calcutta and has appeared in a show like Indubala Bhaater Hotel before Pine Cone, said: “My character Derek is very different from who I am. Derek is a confused person regarding everything from career to sexuality. The attention and acclaim that Pine Cone has gotten is overwhelming. It is my first Hindi film and to have your first Hindi film screened at British Film Institute Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and across the world is a really happy surprise.”

Sujoy said: “I am very happy that my friend Myna Mukherjee, the founder of ENGENDERED, could showcase Onir’s film in the city. It’s important that Pine Cone be shown in schools and colleges for all. As an actor, I was quite moved by his film because I guess there’s queerness in all of us and our manifestations are different. The best is mostly queer. Isn’t it? The after-party was a lot of fun with our friends who came to meet Onir and the cast of Pine Cone.” Vanita said: “We were delighted to host the after-party along with Sujoy at Lord of the Drinks. The entire star cast and guests made it a memorable night.”