Prosenjit Chatterjee continues to problem and reinvent himself as an actor on display. The actor, who has been a prolific presence for many years, is gearing up for the discharge of Devi Chowdhurani, the brand new movie directed by Subhrajit Mitra. It’s a historic drama, tailored from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s works, the place he performs the rebellious saint, Bhavani Pathak.
Forward of the discharge of Devi Chowdhurani this Friday, the actor caught up for a fast chat with Hindustan Occasions in regards to the movie, working with Srabanti, and why it’s all the time particular for a movie to launch throughout Durga Pujo. (Excerpts, translated from Bengali).
‘These tales by no means get outdated’
“To get the possibility to play a component like Bhavani Pathak is sort of a blessing,” Prosenjit begins after I ask him in regards to the expertise of doing the movie. “I work with the concept that there are plenty of issues that I’m but to do in my profession. It’s from a piece by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, which is being tailored for the display after so a few years; it’s wonderful. These tales by no means get outdated. Bhavani Pathak is a historic character. It portrays part of our historical past, through the British Raj. He was a saint, however he was additionally a fighter.”
The actor provides, “There have been so many fascinating hooks for the character to me. The scope and weight of the character within the movie, how vastly realized he was, and in addition such a bodily sturdy one, who even learnt martial arts and taught the villagers to defend themselves. I had performed a saint earlier than in Moner Manush, however that was extra of a musical. Right here, the saint can be a warrior. So after I acquired the possibility to play a personality like this, I immediately stated sure as a result of a personality like this doesn’t come very often. I used to be actually comfortable and proud to be a part of a mission like Devi Choudhurani.”
The movie stars Srabanti Chatterjee within the titular position, together with Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Arjun Chakraborty, Darshana Banik, Bibriti Chatterjee, and Kinjal Nanda. Set in 1770 Bengal, the narrative follows the transformation of a easy village lady into the revolutionary chief Devi Chowdhurani beneath the mentorship of Bhawani Pathak, a Robin Hood-like determine who fought the British and distributed wealth among the many poor.
“This can be a Bengali movie made in Bengali. In fact, it leans into the industrial components, however at any time when the phrase ‘industrial’ is used, we consider so many issues, however this isn’t the case right here,” says Prosenjit.
On working with Srabanti
The actor goes on to share that the on-screen equation of a mentor and disciple with Srabanti’s character is a continuation of how they bond even off-screen. “I’ve that benefit right here, and I’ve seen her develop in entrance of my eyes,” Prosenjit says. “She has all the time been so form and affected person. She had performed the position of my daughter in Mayar Bandhon [the film, which released in 1997, marked the screen debut of Srabanti], and afterward she even performed by love curiosity in Kaushik Ganguly’s Kaberi Antardhan.”
“The guru-shishya equation that our characters share on this movie comes naturally to us, as a result of she actually seems as much as me like a mentor. I really feel that actually exhibits on display as properly, and I’m an individual who, on set, I maintain them… as an individual, not as a star (smiles). I actually consider that this off-screen equation displays on display. It was incredible working with Srabanti, and I can guarantee that after 10 minutes into the movie, the viewers will not even recognise that she is Srabanti. She is that good in it,” he provides.
How is a pujo launch totally different from another launch through the yr? The actor has had loads of releases throughout Bengal’s greatest pageant, so he is aware of a factor or two in regards to the craze. He says, “Durga Puja is a pageant for us. At one level in my profession, two of my movies would launch throughout Pujo! Then there was a time when that turned much less, possibly due to the expansion of multiplexes…. I feel Autograph [his 2010 pujo release] performed an important position in altering that, together with Baishey Shrabon [released in 2011]… which introduced in a brand new Bengali viewers to theatres once more. From then on, pujo turned crucial for Bengali movies to launch…”
‘Individuals in Bengal need to watch Bengali movies throughout Pujo’
“Pujo is an emotion altogether. Individuals in Bengal need to watch Bengali movies at the moment. So many individuals have already fastened schedules on what to do throughout pujo, that we’ll eat at this place, watch this movie and see these many pandals (smiles). So this time is uncommon, and it has all the time been crucial. It’s the time for celebration, and there’s no larger celebration for Bengalis,” he concludes.
Devi Chowdhurani is produced by Aparna Dasgupta and Aniruddha Dasgupta of ADited Movement Photos, together with Soumyajit Majumdar from LOK Arts Collective. Will probably be launched in theatres on September 26.