MY KOLKATA EDUGRAPH
ADVERTISEMENT
Regular-article-logo Monday, 07 July 2025

P & P — Parambrata & Parno

Read more below

Text: Kushali Nag Pictures: Arnab Mondal Published 16.03.14, 12:00 AM
Man of iron: Param strikes an Iron Man pose in front of the Robert Downey Jr poster, during the interval. Parno plays her part as a damsel in distress!

Last Sunday night, Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Parno Mittra — who play husband and wife in Kaushik Ganguly’s acclaimed Apur Panchali which hits screens on April 25 — hopped into the just-opened INOX at Quest mall to catch the last show of the Kangana Ranaut starrer Queen. Before entering the auditorium, t2 took the two stars around the 42,000sq ft plex. “It’s lovely, looks grand and swanky,” said Parno, strolling through the spacious lobby. “Yes, it’s quite a fancy property,” agreed Parambrata. “Except for the vegetarian food!” pouted Parno. “They should have more mushrooms on the menu because that’s the only vegetarian thing that’s edible, I think!” laughed Param, sipping on Diet Coke. “But there’s Au Bon Pain right outside,” he observed. After taking a look around the theatre, P & P made themselves comfortable in the audi and had a fun time watching Queen, the film that celebrates womanhood in every which way.

TWO CHEERS FOR QUEEN!

Param: I loved Queen! I love the world view of the film. The entire idea of not looking at anybody in black-and-white or in a straight line is very good. Mon bhalo kora chhobi. It wants to make you live life fully. It makes you want to wait for tomorrow. But I don’t like the idea of categorising a film as women-centric. Because I am a man and my perception of women is sometimes as an object of desire, an object of endless and selfless love like my mother, or a friend, girlfriend... I can make a film interpreting it my way, in fact I want to but I am scared that if a woman watches it and says that this isn’t the way they think, then I will feel bad. I’m still into boy and man films. But the idea of machismo is changing. Indian cinema is still largely hero-based, the woman is eye candy. In Hollywood, the trend (of films focused on women) had started much before. Right from Rosemary’s Baby to Million Dollar Baby. How many films like Kahaani or Queen are made in our country? Or Highway for that matter. Now it’s happening and it’s nice to see. But as a director I’m a little reluctant because I don’t understand the girl world too much.

LOUNGE AROUND: Parambrata and Parno check out the savouries from the counters at the lobby. “Look at the lobby! It’s so spacious and looks like the lobby of a five-star hotel. It’s so cool,” smiled the Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona actress. “It’s really a very, very grand property, fantastic,” added Parambrata.

Parno: We live in a society where if a girl doesn’t get married at the right time people talk about her. God help if your marriage breaks and if you are divorced. Queen is a slap on that patriarchal society that pressurises you to do the boring. What I liked about Queen is the journey of a middle-class girl who breaks out of her cocoon and discovers herself. I could relate to the film because I only do women-centric movies. There was a time when very few movies were made keeping women in focus, I am glad they are making films for us now. People are thinking about women.

C FOR COMFORT: After munching through a tub of the crunchy popcorn alone (Parambrata, nursing an injured toe, arrived half an hour late), Parno accompanied Param to grab another tub from the snack counter Refuel! “It’s the grandest INOX property I have seen in Calcutta,” said Param munching on the Cheese Popcorn. “It’s a very comfortable movie-watching experience. You don’t mind coming in a little early than your show time because the whole atmosphere speaks of comfort. There’s also a bar which will open shortly!” said Parno. “The bar is fantastic news. It’s a nice place to have a drink at the end of the day before going in for a movie,” smiled Param.

Follow us on:
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT