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| Rituparno Ghosh and Jisshu Sengupta in a moment from Just Another Love Story |
The movie that marks his acting debut as a gay filmmaker in love with his married cinematographer has fetched director Kaushik Ganguly the Special Jury Award at the 41st International Film Festival of India. Rituparno Ghosh tells t2 what the honour bestowed on Just Another Love Story, which releases on December 24, means to him.
Did your directorial voice intervene during the making of Just Another Love Story?
When I accepted this project, I didn’t do it as an actor. I did it because I wanted to be part of a good project. Since I am not an actor, but a director, I can’t be in a film just as an actor. I can’t put on my make-up and wait for the lights to be set up, and then go and give a shot and come back to my seat. Perhaps I would have trained myself in that way if I were a professional actor. But I am essentially a filmmaker.
Since I was the more established director, I was very cautious that Kaushik was respected. I respected the director’s word. I had told the spot boys that they should call Kaushik ‘Dada’ and me ‘Rituda’ on the sets... they usually call me Dada.
But was it easy keeping your opinions to yourself and follow Kaushik’s instructions?
If Kaushik said okay after a shot, I was okay with it. I never wanted to see the monitor. Bumba (Prosenjit) never wants to see the monitor during my shoots. I have seen both young and veteran actors rushing to the monitor after every shot. This trend began with television. My point is that if an actor needs to check his work after every shot, it means you don’t trust your director. The director knows better about what he needs for his film.
On the sets of Just Another Love Story, Kaushik would sometimes ask me to see the monitor after a shot and suggest another retake. Indraneil (Sengupta) would see the monitor and sometimes tell me, “Tomarta bhalo hoyechhe, amarta oto bhalo hoyni. Retake kori?” I would say, yes, let’s do it. So, my directorial voice came in in that way. Indraneil was a very generous actor. He helped me as much as Kaushik did.
Actually, the credit for this film goes as much to Indraneil and Jisshu (Sengupta) as to Kaushik. Both Indraneil and Jisshu were aware that I was acting for the first time and the kind of support they gave me without making it obvious was tremendous. Similarly, Soumik (Halder, cinematographer) would hold a tape in front of me to steady my eye line, something that seasoned actors would never need.
The only doubt that Kaushik had when he offered me the role of Roop was if I would be able to do the role of Chapal Bhaduri (in the film within the film) as well. He had thought of using a separate set of actors for that part. He had asked me if I would be able to shed my sophistication and be Chapal. I said, yes of course. And why not? Chapalda has a kind of bonedi sophistication which was not difficult to recreate.
I had suggested that I talk like Chapalda while shooting, but Kaushik and many others felt it was sounding funny though I thought it was okay. So, I said my dialogues normally. But while dubbing for my portions as Chapal Bhaduri, I mimicked Chapalda’s voice. Kaushik may not have realised it while shooting but matching my pace with Chapalda was really difficult during the dubbing.
You were also involved with the look of the film...
My official designation in Just Another Love Story is of a production designer and creative director. My primary responsibility was to oversee the art direction, costumes and look, over and above being an actor. The film was three and a half hours when we sat for the post-production. Tapanbabu (Biswas of Cinemawalla) was relying heavily on me because I had persuaded him to produce the film. So, in the first go, I chopped some of my well-acted scenes. Usually, an actor has an attachment towards his performance. I realised that I didn’t have that kind of an attachment. I cut the film down to two hours. You could say that I have played a major role there.
While handing the Special Jury Award to Kaushik, jury member Revathy said that Just Another Love Story was a “fearless and honest” portrayal of homosexuality. What does it mean to you?
Acknowledging this film was a very bold step on the part of the government. They could have easily said that a film on homosexuality did not represent Indian culture. The fact that a film on gender identity was one of the three Indian films selected for the Indian Panorama at Iffi, was sent for Competition and then chosen for an award is very important to me.
I think it is because Just Another Love Story is actually just another love story. Because the emotional content of the film is so high. In India people have this attitude: ‘This is unnatural. Why this?’ There is a deep connection between homosexuality and physicality in common perception. We don’t realise that this can also be a state of being… that one functions in all areas from this state of being. Homosexuality evokes very strong homoerotic images in our minds. The divide between homosexuality and homoeroticism is blurred in us. Just Another Love Story does not have that kind of homoeroticism. It is a pure, emotional story that is very touching. I wouldn’t have associated myself had Kaushik wanted to make a homoerotic film.
Kaushik would say that I had the maximum stake in the movie. But I don’t think so. If I act and whenever I act, I will try to create a gender space for myself in a film. I think it will give the community a very respectable position. Not too many people have either the desire or courage to do so. I have seen many actors who shy away from playing gay roles. Are they scared of their latent homosexuality? I think so.