Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Parno Mittra in Apur Panchali, which releases today

A 68-year-old man walked into the office of Shree Venkatesh Films in south Calcutta one April noon. He had sharp features, salt-and-pepper hair, a moustache. “You probably wouldn’t give him a second look, unless of course you notice his eyes. They are just like Apu’s! If you see him, you’ll know he’s Apu from Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali,” recounts director Kaushik Ganguly. That day Subir Banerjee, who had played Apu in Ray’s debut film, watched the story of his life unfold on screen — in Kaushik Ganguly’s Apur Panchali, where Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Ardhendu Banerjee play his young and old self. Kaushik gives t2 the lowdown.

What was Subirbabu’s reaction when he saw Apur Panchali?

There was a huge responsibility on me since he was watching his life unfold on screen before him. I was really anxious to know his verdict. Would he like it? After watching the film, he was speechless. I could see that he was really moved and then I felt sad. He saw his whole journey, whatever has happened in his life. “Have I told you so much? How did you know these things? Did you record anything secretly?” he asked. I didn’t answer. Then he said, “You have shown everything correctly.” I got very emotional. You know, we tend to forget child actors. I’m sure everyone has a Pather Panchali DVD at home but no one has cared to remember this 68-year-old man who lives in the city. Apu is alive in Calcutta! It’s so exciting for a storyteller to tell his story. And when you get to know that the life of this man is almost similar to Apu’s from the Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar), then how can you not make a film based on his life ?

How did you get to know about Subir Banerjee?

From Shirsha Ray (cinematographer of Apur Panchali)... I got his phone number and called him. I introduced myself in a warm tone and asked him if he was Apu from Pather Panchali. He was quite rude to me then and said, “Ami Apu-topu kichhu na. What do you have to say?” Months later I made my assistant call him up. We got to know that he lives in Netaji Nagar in a middle-class, ordinary house. One day my assistants went up to meet him while I stayed back at the mouth of the lane. He asked us to come the next day around 4pm. This time we got inside the house. I told him that I was thinking of making a film on his life, but Subirbabu said he was not interested in films. He doesn’t watch films. Nothing happened that day. Next week we went again and this time I was determined. He likes listening to music, and I gave him a few CDs of my father Sunil Ganguly’s music and he was very happy. He even sang a few songs. That’s how the ice broke....

So when did you start talking about films?

We didn’t talk films. I started asking him questions about his life, family… I saw a photograph of Satyajit Ray on the wall, and a picture of Subirbabu with his brother. He said, “Kakababu (Ray) had taken that picture. He spotted me playing and asked, ‘Bioscope korbe?’ He took me to the roof of my house and took my picture and my brother’s and selected me on the basis of this picture.” Bachchan Singh, a taxi driver, would take him to the shoot… he now runs the Bachchan Singh dhaba on Rashbehari Avenue. I found his stories fascinating. He is a lonely person, and once he got into this sentimental territory, he just went on.

Subir Banerjee as Apu in Pather Panchali,A file picture of Subir Banerjee

Did you request him to act in your film?

He said, “Baad dao (let it be).” He looks after his mother, who must be around 95… she is bed-ridden. Subirbabu is still looking after his Sarbojaya (Apu’s mother in Pather Panchali is called Sarbojaya).

Are you going through the most creative phase of your career?

I am enjoying this phase because I am being able to make the films I want to, in my way. And a production house like Shree Venkatesh Films is supporting me. When I do a film with them, I don’t know the budget. Once shooting gets over, that becomes the budget. Of course, I have a sense of responsibility to look after the money. I feel really honoured to get this liberty. I also enjoyed the time when I would do telefilms… I was also on a creative high during my youth.... I feel very young now and my energy levels have gone up. But I am very scared of being tagged as a serious filmmaker. The moment people start saying that I’m doing only ‘festival films’ I’ll do something like Rang Milanti or the forthcoming Khaad, which are in a lighter vein (smiles). However, even in a film like Rang Milanti there’s a serious message.

Do expectations weigh you down?

No, it hasn’t happened till now, but this kind of expectation is killing, in the sense that if I don’t say anything new, tahole bipod achhe. So I’ve to be on the lookout always... I keep searching.

How long did you take to write the script of Apur Panchali?

Whatever I write, I finish it in seven-eight days. Once I start writing, I have to finish it at one go. I write best at home, in the midst of chaos, when everyone is around me! I take phone calls, look into household matters, chat with my son, and I keep on writing all through this. My favourite writing place is the dining table, then I go to the bed, and then come back to the dining table!

How do you pick your subjects?

Just like batsmen check out field placements when they go out to bat, I also look at who’s doing which film here (grins)! You see that a film like Chander Pahar is being made, or Srijit Mukherji is making a film… they are giving their best. So then, you do a film that doesn’t fall in their territory. Your path should be the one less travelled.

Why cast Parambrata and Parno?

Param’s features closely resemble a young Subir Banerjee. For Ashima (Subir’s wife, played by Parno Mittra), I thought of Parno instantly. She might come across as a very modern girl, but there is a very shadharon meye inside her who does housework, looks after her mother… someone who hasn’t changed after getting into this stardom thing. She got totally transformed after wearing that sari. Param, I had asked him not to meet Subir Banerjee, and build the character from imagination.