Atanu Ghosh’s film Aaro Ek Prithibi, which is a tale of people who are on the run throughout their lives, desperately seeking a place to settle down, and longing to live peacefully and securely, is all set to release in 16 cities across the US and Canada on June 9. “Aaro Ek Prithibi is very special to me. Now, it’s a delight that the film reaches so widely in regular theatres — 16 cities in the USA and Canada! That’s amazing in times when we are hell-bent on reviving the magic of the large screen to the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed making it and in light of its form and treatment, it’s very different from every other film I’ve done. The shooting phase was really fascinating with some brilliant performers on board and very exciting locations that the production house provided me with. The film is an absorbing portrayal of people living dangerously in foreign lands. It has some top-notch performances, an engaging drama involving so many foreign actors of different ethnicities, and thanks to Debojyoti Mishra for the brilliant use of songs in the narrative. Undoubtedly, it is one of my most critically acclaimed films. It got rave reviews from the best critics,” says Atanu.
The film follows the journey of Pratiksha (played by Tasnia Farin), a young girl who desperately seeks shelter that has eluded her since she was 11. Her journey of finding herself a home brings her to London and thereafter a number of different worlds appear before her in her journey for survival.
“There is a different concept of home for each of the four protagonists. For Pratiksha (Tasnia Farin), it’s a dream she’s nurtured since she was 11. She believes that home is where the heart is. It is true that the location of your heart, as well as the rest of your body, affects who you are. Therefore, she carries a sense of restlessness and a desire to settle down with loved ones throughout her life. Aritro’s (Shaheb Bhattacherjee) perception of home is influenced by economic and personal factors. Attempting to fit in with the generalised Western expectation that ownership of a home means getting a bank mortgage, buying a house and jumping through all the hoops that come with arranging for your share of the amount. As for Ayesha (Anindita Bose), it’s like trying to find money to pay her house rent. Interestingly, Srikanto (Kaushik Ganguly) sees leaving home as an opportunity for change. With change comes the excitement of a new adventure, as well as the scope to discover what is unknown and unfamiliar,” says Atanu.
