Braving rains, thousands of cine lovers thronged the state-run cultural complex 'Nandan' here to bid a tearful farewell to maverick film maker Rituparno Ghosh who died today morning battling pancreatitis.
People waited patiently as the queue comprising mourners of all ages, a sizable number of them women, stretched about a kilometre.
Songs on death and prayers like 'Aguner Poroshmoni' by Rabindranath Tagore were played to pay respects to Ghosh.
Policemen had a tough time managing the crowd which had a sizeable number of LGBTs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender), including members of Sapho for Equality, who turned up to pay their respects to the film director who had dealt with the issues of alternative sexuality and never hid his sexual preference.
Ghosh's colleagues and friends from the Tollywood fraternity - directors, actors, producers, singers, lyricists, poets and musicians - stood near the body as people offered floral tributes.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was among those who offered wreaths. She was accompanied by her ministerial colleagues Arup Biswas, Boby Hakim and Bratyo Basu, a theatre personality himself, who broke down.
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Surjya Kanta Mishra and WBPCC chief Pradip Bhattacharya also laid wreaths and paid their homage to the departed soul.
"Ghosh's untimely demise has created a void in the film industry. We mourn his death," Mishra said.
Acclaimed film maker Goutam Ghosh said, "I couldn't believe my ears when I was told this morning that Ritu (as he was known to the film fraternity) is no more. He cannot go this way...I can't yet believe he is no more around."
"He is one person who had shown more sensitivity towards our rights, our anguish and pains. He accorded respect to our identity as humans. He is one who taught us that there is nothing to hide regarding our sexuality," Anandi, a member of LGBT community, said breaking down.
