Set against the intriguing backdrop of Begunkodar, the film Poroborti Station Begunkodar, directed by Suchandra X Vaaniya and Chaandroday Pal, explores the lingering weight of the unknown through an atmosphere driven by silence and stillness rather than conventional horror tropes.
Drawing inspiration from the enigmatic aura of the location, the film relies heavily on mood and emotional immersion. In this t2 chat, the directors spoke about shaping the film’s visual language, collaborating with actors Soham Majumdar and Rooqma Ray, navigating the challenges of debut filmmaking, and transforming the location into a living, breathing presence within the narrative.
Begunkodar already carries an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. How much did the location influence your storytelling and shooting style?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Begunkodar wasn’t just a backdrop for us — it almost became a silent character in the film. The history, the emptiness, and the stories surrounding the place naturally influenced the rhythm of the storytelling. We consciously avoided over-stylising the mystery and instead allowed the stillness, silences, and natural texture of the location to shape the mood. Even the camera movement became more restrained and observant because the place itself already carried such a haunting emotional presence.
Chaandroday Pal: The location influenced almost everything. From the pacing of scenes to how we used sound and silence. Begunkodar has this strange duality where it feels abandoned, yet emotionally alive. We didn’t want to sensationalise the mystery. Instead, we treated the place realistically and allowed the atmosphere to slowly seep into the storytelling. The shooting style became quieter and more immersive because the location itself was already speaking.
As first-time directors, what aspect of the shooting process challenged you the most?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: The biggest challenge was balancing emotion with execution. As a first-time director, you are constantly thinking about performances, continuity, technical setups, time pressure, and emotional truth all at once. Learning how to make quick decisions without losing clarity was probably the toughest part.
Chaandroday Pal: For me, the challenge was constantly shifting between creative thinking and practical problem-solving. You may have a strong emotional vision for a scene, but filmmaking demands flexibility every minute. Managing time, energy, weather, performances, and technical limitations simultaneously was a huge learning experience.
How did you prepare yourself before stepping onto the set?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Preparation became our biggest source of confidence. We spent a lot of time discussing character psychology, shot divisions, references, and emotional beats before the shoot began. Mentally, I also prepared myself for unpredictability because filmmaking never goes exactly as planned.
Chaandroday Pal: We spent months understanding the emotional arcs of the characters and visualising the tone of the film. Personally, I wanted to enter the set with openness rather than rigidity. Cinema evolves while shooting, and some of the best moments happen unexpectedly.
What was your visual approach while designing the mood and atmosphere of the film?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: We wanted the visuals to feel emotionally immersive rather than overtly horror-driven. The idea was to create tension through absence — dimly lit spaces, long pauses, empty frames, natural sounds, and restrained colour palettes. We wanted the audience to slowly sink into the loneliness of that world.
Chaandroday Pal: Our visual language relied heavily on natural textures, muted tones, empty spaces, and slow tension-building. We consciously avoided excessive stylisation because emotional realism was more important to us than creating conventional horror imagery.
How was your experience working with Soham Majumdar and Rooqma Ray during the shoot?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: It was an incredibly collaborative experience. Soham came to the set extremely prepared and emotionally invested in the film. His sincerity and openness to discussion made difficult scenes much easier to execute.
Chaandroday Pal: Working with them was extremely rewarding. They brought sensitivity, intelligence, and discipline to their performances. What helped us as first-time directors was the trust they placed in the process and the constant creative collaboration on set.
Did the actors surprise you in any way while performing their characters on set?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Absolutely. Some of the most memorable moments came from spontaneous choices Soham and Debraj made during rehearsals or takes. Sometimes an expression or even silence communicated more than written dialogue.
Chaandroday Pal: Definitely. There were moments where their emotional interpretations deepened scenes far beyond what was originally imagined on paper. Those discoveries became some of the most valuable parts of the filmmaking process.
Were there any scenes that were emotionally or technically difficult to shoot?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: There were scenes that demanded emotional exhaustion from both the actors and the crew because the atmosphere of the location itself became very intense during long night shoots. Technically, shooting in low-light outdoor conditions while preserving realism was very challenging.
Chaandroday Pal: Night sequences were especially difficult because of the physical and emotional intensity involved. Technically, maintaining realism while working with limited light sources was challenging, but those limitations ultimately helped shape the film’s atmosphere.
How important were location and production design in building the world of the film?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: They were extremely important because the film relies heavily on atmosphere. We wanted every corridor, wall, and abandoned object to feel like it carried memory. The production design was intentionally subtle because realism was key to making the mystery believable.
Chaandroday Pal: Location and production design were central to the storytelling. We wanted the audience to feel the weight of history and memory in every frame. Subtle realism often creates stronger psychological immersion than exaggerated detailing.
Did the team face any unexpected challenges during the shoot?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Every film faces unpredictability, and ours was no different. Weather conditions, logistical limitations, and managing long night shoots were all difficult at different points. But sometimes those difficulties unexpectedly added rawness to the film. Our producer, Astavinayak Films and Entertainments, stood behind us throughout the process and helped us execute the vision we dreamt of.
Chaandroday Pal: Yes, several. Weather unpredictability, transportation logistics, and the physical demands of night shoots constantly tested the team. But filmmaking often thrives on adaptation, and many creative solutions emerged from those challenges.
How collaborative was the process between you and your cinematographer while creating the film’s visual language?
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Very collaborative. We spent a lot of time with our DOP Souvik Basu discussing emotional perspective rather than just aesthetics. Instead of asking how a scene should look, we often asked how it should feel.
Chaandroday Pal: It was deeply collaborative from the beginning. Every frame had to reflect the psychological state of the characters and the loneliness of the environment. We had long discussions about stillness, darkness, framing, and how much we wanted to reveal versus conceal visually.
Tell us about Soham and Rooqma’s characters.
Suchandra X Vaaniya: Soham’s character of Dr. Nayan Mukherjee appears emotionally restrained on the surface, but underneath there’s conflict and unresolved tension that slowly unfolds. Rooqma’s character Rai Acharya carries emotional vulnerability but also quiet inner strength. She represents someone navigating fear, memory, and uncertainty while holding onto emotional truth.
Chaandroday Pal: Soham’s character is more internally guarded, but there’s a constant tension beneath the surface. Rooqma’s character exists at the emotional centre of the story. She carries sensitivity, curiosity, and emotional conflict that gradually drive the narrative forward. Their dynamic becomes one of the emotional anchors through which the audience experiences the mystery of the film.