Parambrata, Mimi and Saswata at Rabindra Sarobar. Pictures: Rashbehari Das

“Lovers not allowed”, read the graffiti on a wall at Rabindra Sarobar. Saswata Chatterjee reads it and quips: “We are in pairs, kintu!” “How could I have not discovered this place when I was in college?!” Mimi Chakraborty gets nostalgic. “I have been here often when I was younger,” chips in Parambrata Chattopadhyay. For the next one hour, the three cast members of Raj Chakraborty’s August 9 release Proloy (produced by Shree Venkatesh Films) discussed the film and why they relate to its theme...

Raj is pitching Proloy as “different” from his earlier works. How was your experience?

Param: Mimi should answer this because she has worked in Raj’s film (Bojhena Shey Bojhena) earlier. This is the first time I have worked with him.

Mimi: Everything is different in Proloy. The script, the story... Proloy is actually a Raj Chakraborty film but the story is different. His earlier films were all hero/heroine-oriented. Proloy is different because it’s based on a real-life hero.

Param: The difference lies in the fact that every director has his own signature. Proloy is styled liked a Raj film, very high-energy in making. The palette is very commercial. The difference is that most of his films were remakes of south Indian films, but not Proloy. It is a blend of realistic cinema and the mainstream masala films that Raj makes.

Saswata: What I feel is that everyone will identify with the characters. Most will definitely identify with Barun Biswas (a youth from Sutia who was murdered when he protested violence on women in his village. Parambrata plays Barun in Proloy). It’s a very real story. And I think this is the right time for a film like Proloy to release, with what is happening around us today. Because the hero of the film stands up against goons. Such a character should motivate our youth to stand up.

Param: But I feel that people will identify more with Animesh Dutta (Saswata) the cop. He is more flesh and blood. In fact, in parts Animesh reminds me of Shahenshah’s Amitabh Bachchan — the cop, not the messiah! Animesh isn’t a very good cop. He has grey shades...

Saswata: Yes, on spotting a woman he takes a yellow comb out of his pocket and starts combing his hair. (Laughs)

Param: And he drinks... he is a bad cop with a good heart.

Mimi, you are the only woman in the all-male Proloy cast...

Mimi: Yes! Raj decided at the last moment and I am very happy that he has given me such a meaningful role. My character Durga will be an inspiration to many women who want to protest wrongdoings.

Param: I think we are missing out on another very vital character in Proloy and that’s Paranda (Bandopadhyay). If I could match him age-wise, I would have definitely played Benod Bihari (Paran’s role).

Is Proloy an extension of the Sananda TV serial Proloy Aasche?

Param: I wouldn’t say it’s an extension. Yes, of course, there are similarities. Proloy Aasche too was about the uprise of a few ordinary people against social injustice. But the context and the characters are very different. Proloy Aasche was an urban story.

Saswata: Proloy is on a much larger scale.

Did you know about Barun Biswas before doing the film?

Saswata: I read about him in the papers.

Param: I came to know about him when he was shot.

Saswata: For me Proloy has been a departure. I never imagined that I would ride a bike and do fight sequences. I have played a cop before in Amanush but Animesh is different. Shei kobey Mrinalda (Sen) ke mithye katha bolechhilam that I can ride a bike when he offered me Amar Bhuvan! I still haven’t learnt to ride a bike!

Param-Saswata has been a team from the beginning. How do you feel the other has evolved as an actor?

Saswata: I have grown taller! I am not that tall but Param is very tall and may grow a little more!

Param: (Looks startled and laughs) After 30, it’s difficult to get taller!... We started out with TV and moved on to films like Chalo Let’s Go..., Brakefail....

Saswata: I still remember Param when he didn’t have a beard! I still don’t have a beard but that’s another story... (Laughs) Many years have passed... as actors we’ve definitely grown and that’s why we are still in this industry.