Anik Datta’s Meghnadbodh Rohoshyo, which released on July 21 in 62 halls across Bengal, will release in Sweden on August 6. This comes  on the heels of its release in Delhi, Bombay, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ranchi and Pune on July 28. The film also opened in San Francisco on July 30.

“There is a demand for multiple shows in San Francisco. The film is also releasing in Atlanta and Chicago soon. The feedback has been very positive. Anik is a good storyteller and Abir Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Gargee Roychowdhury have their own fan following,” said  Kalyanmoy Chatterjee, one of the producers of the film. Abir of course is very happy with the response. A quick t2 chat.

What drew you to Meghnadbodh Rohoshyo?

First of all, it’s an Anik Datta film. And he is back with a film after four years [after Aschorjyo Pradip]. Meghnadbodh Rohoshyo is so different from his previous two films that I was quite intrigued. And we were in talks during Bhooter Bhobishyot but somehow it didn’t work out. So when I got this offer, I felt that I must do it. And the character I have played (Abir plays filmmaker Kunal Sen) is neither like Feluda nor Byomkesh. But it’s a thriller and I am there. As one of the suspects.

It’s a very layered film. It’s made for people who are socially and politically aware. There are different characters, and you get to know their social and political standpoints. It is for an audience looking for films with a head and heart. You have to watch the film carefully, follow the lines… the dialogues have various implications.  

Did the Feluda or Byomkesh in you feel tempted to solve the rohoshyo?

No! Anikda had come up with a mojar premise with Benuda (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty playing Asimava Bose, a professor at Oxford University who also writes science fiction) and me.
 
So how was it sharing screenspace with your Feluda predecessor?

It was as natural as it should be. We shared shooting anecdotes. I got to hear old stories of the stage.  

How did it feel to be at the other end of the spectrum as a suspect?

I didn’t see it like that. This script is very different from Byomkesh. It’s a contemporary film with a periodic reference. We had done our homework and we were ready when we went on the sets. We had done rehearsals so we had a fair bit of idea of what’s going to happen on the sets. We were sure about our portions and our lines, which we also kept flexible.

Since you were working with Anikda for the first time, what was on your to-do list as you walked into his set?

When I work with a different unit, I know that I need to adapt myself into that system. That’s one of the primary responsibilities of an actor.  Being an actor, it is also my responsibility to get into the skin of the character. Filmmaking is all about teamwork, and you also need to get used to the unit.  

What is Anikda’s signature style?

His scripts… which are very intelligent. Also, his eye for detail. He knows what he wants and he is sure about that.

Since you are playing a filmmaker, did you model your character on someone? 

No, I followed whatever was there in the script. Through discussions we eventually arrived at the body language of my character.

Arindam Chatterjee
Picture: Pabitra Das