Anandalok is the leading Bengali movie magazine published from Kolkata. It’s published by ABP Ltd, one of India’s largest media barons.
Over the years Anandalok has transformed from a spicy, hot movie mag to a sensible cinema-based multi-interest magazine. From a last bencher’s forbidden treasure in school to a braodbased one catering to more groups of people. The most part of the transformation has happened in the last seven years, especially after noted Bengali film director Rituparno Ghosh took charge as the editor (Though he has left more than two years back). Once Anandalok’s hot centrespreads were sought after by youngsters, now it has been done away with. I’ve been experiencing this magazine irregularly since late 80s and regularly since the last seven years.
It has sections like- letters (The best letter is specially presented), articles relating to contemporary Hindi, Bengali and Hollywood cinema and celebrities; articles on Hindi and Bengali TV celebrities; movie reviews with rating (Hindi, Bengali and English), Bollywood party coverage (Picture story), tit bits on Hindi and Bengali cinema industry, Hollywood and Hindi TV industry, Bollywood gossip (A film mag’s must-have section), short interviews of movie actors, beauty advice, celeb cooking and articles on contemporary issues in sports and politics and profile of Bengali and non-Bengali celebs in diverse fields. Contests are held frequently.
It does not miss out on any contemporary issue in Bollywood, Bengali film and TV industry. The readers’ letters are all well selected. Since it is from Kolkata, the home of Bengali film industry, it showcases every upcoming Bengali movie in the league of good cinema.
The production value is good and it’s value-for-money for Rs 15. The layout is first rate and cover design is good.
Anandalok is highly interactive. It has formed a reader panel whose feedback it takes after each issue is out. Readers are asked what they particularly liked and disliked in each issue and told to rate it.
It organises events time to time to interact with it’s district readers. Some of it’s contests ask the readers to write on a subject and the best entries are published in special issues. It has also started it’s own film and television awards ceremony a few years back.
Every Bengali magazine comes up with a special issue before Puja, Bengali’s largest festival. Anandalok’s Puja number accommodates cinema write-ups and star photographs besides novels, thereby showing respect to Bengali literature, a speciality of Bengal.
Overall, easily the best Bengali film magazine which is sensible and very readable.