A few months ago Christopher Columbus was spotted on Park Street. He seemed to be searching for something. He kept on walking up to people and asking them something. The response? A shake of the head or a ‘no’. t2 brought out the telescope and trained its lens on Mir aka Columbus and the rest of Team Colkatay Columbus (the film starring Mir, Gaurav Chakrabarty, Tonushree Chakraborty, Ritabhari Chakraborty, and produced by Sony AATH and Joy B. Ganguly releases today) at Tonushree’s restaurant American Cave in New Alipore over Caesar Salad, Honey Glazed Chicken, Grilled Chicken Breast and Cappuccino.
Mir, what were you doing on Park Street dressed as Christopher Columbus at night?
We did a super interesting night sequence on Park Street, guerrilla-style... the brief was that I had to ask someone something to which the other person would inadvertently shake his head and say ‘no’. Nobody could shed light on what Columbus was searching for, and Saurav Palodhi (director) would just capture the action. So I went up to a magazine seller and asked, ‘Do you have the Colkatay Columbus book?’ And he was like, ‘No book by that name is here!’ I went towards a restaurant and the doorman recognised me. ‘Good evening Mirda,’ he said. Before he got more cordial with me, I asked him, ‘Do you have milk?’ Surprised, he shook his head. And then the manager came out, got to know about my query, and said, ‘No, we don’t serve milk’ (everyone bursts out laughing). Then I walked up to a traffic cop and asked him, ‘Achha dada, is the shortest route to Lalbazar via Kalighat?’ He said ‘no’!
Saurav: Columbus lands in 2016 Calcutta and changes the lives of a few people. Now, one has to see how he (Columbus) goes about it! Suddenly Columbus gets lost in the city. Imagine, a person like Columbus getting lost! Will he find his way out? Gradually, Columbus and Calcutta see and find each each other in a new way.
Mir, what was your first reaction when you got to know that you would have to wear a wig and a heavy costume while shooting during summer?
I got really psyched out. And the word protagonist has ‘agoni’ in it. The protagonist goes through so much ‘agony’. I was watching the look test of others and it was a breeze for them, whereas I had to dress like a bear and walk around the city. And you’ll notice something… amra weather-biporit poshakh pori. Chiffon saris are worn in Alaska! During the shoot every time I would be mopping my forehead and someone or the other would come up and say, ‘Khub koshto hochhe na?!’ The schedule for the day would always mention... with Columbus costume!
Isn’t it difficult to keep a straight face while acting opposite Mir?
Tonushree: On the sets he is quite serious! But the interesting thing about him is that you just won’t be able to tell what he is going to say next! The film is also like that.
Gaurav: He is a great performer. I got to learn a lot from him… his enunciation, pronunciation, the way Mir kaku handles himself in front of the camera.
Mir: He is the only person, apart from child actors, who calls me Mir kaku (smiles).
Gaurav: I call him kaku because I have known him for a very long time.
Mir: There is a photograph of the two brothers (Gaurav and Arjun) with me in his mother’s collection. That was in 1994. Benuda (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, Gaurav’s father) had a black Ambassador then. I had gone to Benuda’s place to take an interview and to invite him for an event. I have been close to the family in various ways and there have been times where I have sought Benuda’s advice.
Tonushree: By the way, did you know I suffered a ligament tear while doing a chase sequence with him in the film Obhishopto Nighty?!
Mir: I don’t know what to say. I’ll pay for the food! And hello, I got beaten up by Dev’s character who came to save Tonushree’s character in the film (laughs). But seriously, as an MC, I have seen Tonushree walking the ramp and I would think this girl really knows how to carry herself. And I never got the opportunity to speak to her. Much later we got to interact on Obhishopto Nighty.
Starting with Columbus, some of you have very interesting names here...
Ritabhari: I am called Shakira and everyone stops short whenever they hear my name. And Shakira is always taking selfies. The first thing that pops in her head after seeing Columbus is, ‘Selfie toh banta hai’! She is not bothered about anything else. All that matters to her is taking a selfie. Her world revolves around Instagram or Twitter...
Saurav: Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and this Shakira’s lips don’t lie.
Gaurav: I play Bolohari Roy... friends call him Roy. He hates his corporate job and feels that he is stuck in a rut. He wants to get out and write a book. He has a soft corner for Amrapali (yes, that’s what Tonushree is called), but she is close to the boss. He is frustrated and irritated.
Suchandra Vaaniya: My screen name Sneha, who is an RJ, is perfect. You’ll find a Sneha in every home. She is responsible, simple and emotionally strong.
Arindam Chatterjee
Pictures: Pabitra Das
What would you say to Mir to make him LOL? Tell t2@abp.in
P for Posto! After Praktan, it is time for Posto. Having struck box-office gold with Bela Sheshe and Praktan, director duo Shiboprosad Mukhopadhyay and Nandita Roy are all set to start shooting their next film, Posto, in December. The film stars Jisshu Sengupta, Mimi Chakraborty, Soumitra Chatterjee and Lily Chakraborty among others. Though tight-lipped about the significance of the name of the film, Shiboprosad says that the film revolves around modern-day parenting. “A child today is growing up either under the care of parents or grandparents. Grandparents get involved in a child’s upbringing when the parents step out for work. The film explores this theme, family dynamics and how modern-day parenting creates the contemporary value system among children. Working parents and grandparents view the situation in different ways,” said Shiboprosad. The director duo will be working with Jisshu and Mimi for the first time, who they feel are “perfect for the film”.
