Mumbai: In an exclusive interview with Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, where he discussed his upcoming movie 'Devi Chowdhurani', shedding light on the storyline and his experience working on the film. He shared his approach to exploring historical and contrasting themes as an artist, highlighting the depth and complexity they bring to work. After that, he also talked about his fondest memory from the film, recalling the collaboration with director Dibakar Banerjee. In the last, he expressed his enthusiasm for working with talented filmmakers and exploring new narratives..
#ProsenjitChatterjee #DeviChowdhurani #exclusiveinterview #UpcomingMovie #futureprojects #cinematographers #challenges
#ProsenjitChatterjee #DeviChowdhurani #exclusiveinterview #UpcomingMovie #futureprojects #cinematographers #challenges
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00So hello sir. Welcome to INS. Thank you.
00:02Congratulations for your upcoming film, Devi Chaudrani, that's about to release.
00:06I want to know that for your character of Bhavani, Thakur Bhavani Patak might have changed in the film.
00:14Now I know for the fact that he is the mentor of Devi Chaudrani.
00:18But for you, when you were playing this character, what were the things in your mind,
00:22the basics of it that I'll play it this way, the tone would be this, the pitch of the character would be in a certain way.
00:26If you could break that down for us.
00:28Yeah, it's a historical character, Bhavani Patak and we have a mandir.
00:35And Devi Chaudrani also do have a mandir and it was a story of, it's not a story I'll say, it is history.
00:41That is the way Bankim Chandra Chattapad hai, his novel has been written.
00:47He always wrote stories with fiction and non-fiction, fictionalize kar ke usko.
00:52That was his pattern. And for me, I think for any Bengalis, all over the world, Devi Chaudrani is a emotion.
01:02Yeah. And because the world doesn't really, doesn't know that in 17th century, a freedom fighter,
01:11who was a sannyasi rebel. And with that, he after a certain time just found, finds out a girl, very innocent girl.
01:21But he, because he was a spiritual guy, he also understood this girl has a very different kind of a power.
01:30And how this man makes this innocent girl, Devi Chaudrani, who fought against Britishers in the year 17th century.
01:40And this has not been told to the world. Yeah. And Bhavani Patak been the first sannyasi rebel in that way.
01:49And there was again, Majinu Shah, who was a Fakir, who was also a rebellion. And sannyasi and Fakir, they stood together and fought against Britishers,
02:01when Britishers was just getting in. That time Kolkata was the capital. Yeah. Right.
02:06So, I think this subject itself has so much of history. And my Bhavani Patak character, why it was more interesting?
02:16I had done two major characters, which was Lalan Fakir and also later on, which was Antoni Firingi.
02:28Both were very spiritual characters, because Lalan was a person who was in jungle. And you know that,
02:35Baul, who started? Yeah. He, till now, the research is on, not in India, it's been on in China, Japan, that,
02:44how this man who started singing with some lines, those lines were written in the tree. And these lines are today's,
02:53whatever is happening in, not only in our country, all over the world. So, that kind of a spiritual character I gave.
03:00Then I did Antoni Firingi, who was a foreigner, who came to Kolkata, landed up, fell in love with a Bengali girl,
03:09and he started learning Bengali. And then he became Kalima's, till today, whatever we sing, more or less it's written by a foreigner.
03:19Okay. And we have a mandir, Antoni Firingi mandir. So, I have done these two spiritual characters, but both are musical.
03:26I think this was a character where I, why I loved it, that it's a spiritual character with believing the, he's a warrior,
03:36he believes that you have to fight back. And he's a very strong, insight strong character. And we have also used
03:45lot of Sanskrit in this. Okay. Lot of Sanskrit. That was another process for me. And the action part also,
03:53of course, I have done a lot of actions in my life. Action is something very difficult, something new for me.
03:59But my director, Shubhrajit Mitra, who is absolutely a mind-blowing director, but he believes in those realistic level.
04:08So, he really made us, the entire team, especially the girls, and they all learned a very different sword fight,
04:16a very different, all artifies are real. And it's mostly hand-to-hand combat?
04:21Yeah. So, it's more of a realistic. Okay. So, it was a bit difficult for that. But for me, Bhavane Pathak,
04:30I had to take this character. Normally, what I do is, I take the character inside. But for me, because it was a spiritual,
04:39he was a Kali Pujari. Toh, mujhe na wo, wo, that calmness was very important. So, I had to detach,
04:47at least myself for around two months from the regular life what we go through. That's the way I operate myself.
04:55Okay. And since you mentioned that this character is spiritual, but believes in fighting for the rights,
05:01fighting for freedom, that's a very interesting space to explore as an artist because on one hand,
05:06there is this angle of spirituality that, you know, you are detached from the world, away from the world,
05:11away from the world in your own spiritual thoughts. But contrary to that, you also have to fight,
05:17you have to put up a resistance from the British Raj to explore these contrasting themes in a character.
05:23How was that for you to explore as an artist, as an actor?
05:25Yeah, that was very challenging, you know, because, not challenging, I will say, I always say,
05:31this is our duty to do it, challenge is not a right word. But, yeah, I go through some kind of a process,
05:41which I normally do, when I do this kind of a character. I have been working on Sanskrit,
05:48I have been reading some other books, that particular period, just to know more about, not only for a history,
05:57you know, the society, the ambience and they used to stay in jungles. In fact, Bhavani Patak first,
06:06we talk about this guerrilla fight. He introduced it because he was saying that British Raj,
06:12they always have lot of soldiers, arms with them, they didn't have anything.
06:16He was in the army, yeah. So, they have very few people. So, he used to teach how this guerrilla fight,
06:23we can come back to them. So, all these part were very interesting for me as an actor, to know that,
06:31and implement as an actor, it should be normal. And, he was a very educated person also.
06:36Yeah. He used to talk, like, in Sanskrit, and he used to tell the entire thing in Bengali.
06:44He used to know English, he used to know French, he is a very learned person. But, this all reflection
06:53is there in this character. It is a very, I will say, a person when he comes, that is the reason,
07:02the film starts where Britishers, when they hear his name, Bhavani Patak, they cross, oh my God.
07:09So, it is, he was so big threat, proper, proper Robin Hood types.
07:14Okay. And, you spoke about, in the earlier answer, you spoke about Kolkata being the capital back then.
07:20Now, for Indian freedom struggle… Because, Calcutta used to have the maximum, I mean,
07:24it was one of the richest, I think, stage in that point of time. And also…
07:30Damindari and all those… Absolutely. Yeah.
07:33Bengal being the land of freedom fighters, this Raj Bhairi Bose, Khudiram Bose, Bhagajatin, you know,
07:40legendary tall figures in the Indian freedom struggle. How has that shaped up your personality,
07:45as an artist and as a human being? I was blessed. I acted as a Netaji Subhash force.
07:52I mean, it covers everything. I mean, the biggest hero of our country, I will say.
07:59Yes. And for that, I had to, again, on that particular time, I had to go back to that history,
08:06that particular time. And I am sure you know that on the 26th, no, 23rd January, my picture was there,
08:16in President's house. Yeah. And that became viral. I was in trending one. So…
08:22Yeah, but I was my… I should… It's not my credit, it's my credit to my director and to my makeup artist.
08:29But yeah, that was a huge journey and I am… You know, the courage-ness when you…
08:35It's not only Bengal, I am talking about anybody from our country. When you talk or go through it,
08:40or if you really love to read, that's the reason history is very important. Yeah. Then, you…
08:47I personally feel that as a human being also, when you see them, the way they conducted,
08:54the way they… they died, they gave their own, then sometime I feel there is a lot of things
09:00happening with me or beside me, shouldn't have been done. Yeah. When we…
09:06if we really want to see what our… You know, maybe 40 years, 70 years, 80 years back,
09:12the people have done for us. Yeah. Then you don't feel like whatever we are doing is…
09:17It's correct. Sometime I feel like… It's not done. It's… It's disrespectful also. It's…
09:20It's very disrespectful, it's disrespectful for ourselves. True, true. Okay. Okay.
09:26And moving on, sir, one of my favourite works of yours is Shanghai. Thank you.
09:30I love that film to death. 13… 12-13 years to that film now.
09:35When you were offered that film, you have worked in Hindi cinema. I think you started working in Hindi cinema in the 1980s.
09:41Yeah. Andhya. Andhya was the first. Being such a tall figure in Indian cinema and having Dibakar Banerjee get you on board for a film like Shanghai.
09:52What was the whole process like and what are your fondest memories of that film?
09:56It was nothing very serious but Dibakar was one of the finest director. I have always loved his work.
10:03He came in and told me one thing. I was doing modern models at that time. He told me that this is not a character which is throughout the film.
10:11But I just need character. The film doesn't work without this character. At the same time, you have a very powerful eye.
10:19Yeah. The man whom people can believe in. If you see Bhavani Patek is against the same. Okay.
10:26I want your, that presence and your eyes. Because somebody whom people can, common people, can have faith. And it was a beautiful journey and I think I had got so much of appreciation after doing.
10:42Even in, in Calcutta, people like Aparna Say and that time Bitu was alive. They all called me and said it is one of your best work.
10:51Yeah. So for me, it's been always from last 15 years I can say. It is not the length of the film. It is the depth of the character.
11:01The impact of the character that it leaves. Yeah. That's the way I am operating now. And I am enjoying it.
11:07Okay. Okay. And moving further, as I mentioned, one of the tallest figures of Indian cinema you are. Of course, there is a sense of responsibility when you reach that stage.
11:17Any artist who reaches a certain level, they feel a sense of responsibility towards the medium of art that they have.
11:23For Bengali cinema, not just Bengali cinema, the Indian cinema in totality, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, everything.
11:29What is it that you want to give back to this medium as one of our legendary artists?
11:34Of course, I mean, I have been doing with my own capacity mainly for Bengali cinema, that everybody knows. I have been always trying to come up with not my film only.
11:52Normally, I produce film where I always either it's going to be a first-time director or the first-time actors. I don't produce a film where I am in cast. No.
12:02Okay. It's always my production always comes up with a production whether it's a first-time director or maybe the first-time actor.
12:08So, I have introduced a lot of actors and they are doing so well, I am so happy. And yeah, I have a plan, very definite plan. If God is with me, I really want to get into cinema halls, which is in large number.
12:24And I think that's one thing is very much needed right now. It's everywhere people are talking. It will solve the problem. Volume and the ticket size has to be for the common people also. Otherwise, they will moved out and they will only watch television, not also OTT.
12:43So, I think for the film, nationally, we need that. So, I am trying hard to get into it.
12:50Okay. Okay. Jubilee, again, is one of my favourite works of yours. Thank you.
12:55Working with Vikramaditya Motwane and of course, a new cast, you know, Mamika Gabi was very fresh back then in Hindi cinema.
13:03Telling a story which is set back in time, again, of our cinema, where it all began after, you know. History.
13:12And history again. Working in a story or in a film that caters to history or that brings history to the forefront, is it something that you really, really like?
13:22I always like to do part of this kind of thing. When Vikram came to Calcutta, when she started talking about this subject,
13:28I, in fact, I was doing a research on Imamshara and Debugirani. I was planning to do something in my own way.
13:35But both are very, very interesting. I will say, wherever we are working, we should know what was the past. Same like Devugirani.
13:44That where we are standing to a position where we don't know about these people who had. So, same I think with Jubilee also, it talks about we are watching so much of great cinema.
13:57The technology has changed. Everything has changed. But we don't know how it started. That was the first thing. I think with the series, with the character, also you,
14:06the wonderful director to work with, he very nicely told, and the younger people, I came to know that people went to that studio.
14:16You know, just to have the feel. It's not there. It's not the same. So, going back to the history is very important. And I always love to be part of that.
14:26And if you talk about Jubilee, the entire team of the actors, we still, after so many years, we have the group and we chat. We are in love with each and everybody. Yes.
14:39Very honest and beautiful team. Thanks to Vikram. Always.
14:43And for my final question, with Devi Chodhrani, working with Shravanti ma'am. Exploring that space as co-actors, because a lot of acting is about reacting,
14:51how you react to your co-stars. Magic happens when there is spontaneity. If you could walk me through the process of, you know,
14:57interacting on camera with her, what was the active give and take like?
15:00Shravanti, of course, I know her from her childhood. She was a child actor. She played my daughter.
15:06And then she acted as my heroine also in her film, as my girlfriend. And now she is playing Devi Chodhrani and I am in mentor.
15:14And we personally also, we have a beautiful relationship, a very affectionate relationship. And she is one of the finest powerful actress.
15:23And before the shoot, we sat with the director. We did lot of workshop, mental workshop, physical workshop, because she had a very,
15:34I will say a very, a definite switch over in the character.
15:43Okay.
15:44She was very strong. She was very strong. And, but she did it very nicely. And I am just, Bhavani Pathak is not the mentor.
15:55I will say that I am mentor to all of this younger generation who are doing so good work. They come to me, even in their personal level also they come to me.
16:05So that helps, you know, then if you see somebody who is like you are, you can go and talk to a person from your heart in their personal level.
16:16It is very easy to, when you come on the camera, it reflects. So I think that reflection had supported Bhavani Pathak and Devi Chodhrani.
16:26And she had done so much of superb action. Even the Nishi, other girls, I can assure you in this particular film, I am telling you I can write it.
16:39Girls will not only clap, they will do whistles because everybody will see themselves on the screen. All the girls, they had done the action.
16:51It is just remarkable, remarkable. And they worked very hard.
16:57Perfect. So with that we have reached the end of this conversation. If there is anything that I may have missed asking as a question or something that you would have loved to talk about.
17:03So please, please.
17:04No, no, it is okay. It is good. It was wonderful talking to you. Yeah, our film Devi Chodhrani is releasing on 26th September. I am very happy.
17:11Because this film when we started, honestly, we were little, because it is a big span film for Bengal. It is a big, huge budget film.
17:18But today I am very happy that these young direct producers who came, Aparna, Shomojit and Aniruttho, they are very young, they stay in USA.
17:29And with that, later on, India, UK government came. Now we have Reliance Z with us. So slowly, slowly, I think, you know, film, you can't predict it happens with the time.
17:40Yeah. So I think today we are catering for not only Bengali, original, we are thinking Devi Chodhrani to be national, global.
17:49So that is the way it is happening. And I am blessed. And film, I mean, it just happens. So it is in the right path.
17:56And 26th September, it is just to, on our Puja. And I think Durga Puja is one biggest festive we have.
18:06So Devi Pokhya Devi Chodhrani we are saying, that is the reason. So I am very happy and people should watch it.
18:13It is a history and for the younger generation also, it is going to be a great film. I would love everyone to come to the theatre and watch it.
18:21I am sure people will turn up in huge numbers. Yes. And I am very sure about it. Thank you. Perfect.
Be the first to comment