The slick 2:26 trailer of Shaheb Bibi Golaam, the third film directed by Pratim D. Gupta, is a snazzy and sexy glimpse of three different tales — Shaheb Anjan Dutt’s world of murder for hire, Bibi Swastika’s dramatic dual existence and the sweet romance of Golaam Ritwick Chakraborty. The three clash in a racy montage of images, leaving you so wanting to find out what happens. The cast and crew of the film got their first look at the trailer last week at Cinepolis in Acropolis mall, and t2 caught up with them to know a little more about who they play in the Friends Communication film that releases on August 26.
Pratim D. Gupta, director
How would you describe the film?
It is a gripping thriller, that’s the idea. The three separate stories are of different genres. Anjanda’s story is the world of crime. Swastika’s story is a pure drama. Ritwick’s story is a love story. But they are just little elements in a bigger picture, which is a suspense thriller. And there is a very strong social element in the film, which has been giving us trouble with the CBFC. There is a rape and the rape kind of brings the three stories together.
How would you define Shaheb?
Shaheb is Anjan Dutt at Gyan Manch. See, Anjan Dutt has a lot of personas and a lot of facades. He is that khetey na paoa, The Machinist-ic Christian Bale-like actor. Again Anjan Dutt is the director who moves his hands a lot while talking. There is another Anjan Dutt, who does one show a year at Gyan Manch, which is organised by his fan club where he comes as a superstar, and says, ‘Ami jokhon Venice-e gechhilam and [Robert] De Niro was next to me’.... I wanted to capture that Shaheb. This my tribute to Anjan Dutt. He is the star of the film.
And Bibi?
Bibi is Swastika, because I don’t think anyone else could have played the role. I don’t think I could have told anybody else to do the things I’ve asked her to do. Swastika and I have that level of comfort where she could be naked physically and emotionally and we would still be actor and director. She never came to the monitor to check any shot because she had that faith in me.
Finally, Golaam?
Golaam is a character that has been created by Ritwick in the sense that when we were fixing on the name Shaheb Bibi Golaam, I wasn’t sure if Golaam was the right fit. Ritwick is an extremely intuitive actor who can shed tears in a second and when there is a ‘cut’ he is just like a normal person. He is a different kind of an actor. He is the only one I had never met before this film. I cast him because I was a huge fan of him as an actor. He is a Nawazuddin-like actor who can bring his character into his own zone and then he does something he’s never done before, a unique quality. He made Golaam that beautiful portrait of loneliness and waiting.
Golaam and Rumi’s (Parno Mittra) story is of love between two very disparate people. The taxi driver and the girl from a very rich family. It is inspired a little from a story we’ve seen in the papers.
The film looks sexy and expensive...
I just wanted that in 2016, Bengali films shouldn’t have the excuse that we didn’t have the budget, etc. Just like SBG’s poster is next to Sultan’s, the trailer should also be in the YouTube list next to Dangal or Akira or Rustom. The ticket prices are not different so why should people spend money on Bengali films unless they feel that in their own language, they are being able to see an equally slick and equally well-acted film that is on a par with Hindi cinema.
Swastika Mukherjee, Jaya the Bibi
How would you describe Jaya?
She is delicious! I love her! She is not just one woman. You know when you take small bombs to make a big one? That’s Jaya.
What was the best thing about playing her?
I danced on screen, I think for the first time since 2008. And it is not the kind of dance you learn growing up.
Also this is a middle-class woman who breaks out and then never looks back. That’s what I found most interesting about her. You know we do these kinds of films where we show this kind of breaking out then we show that they come back and then we show that they are sorry. Well, there is no guilt, she is not effing sorry, and she is not coming back! And if she does it will be on her terms not society’s.
What comes to mind when you think the following...
Bibi: I’ll play by my rules.
Shaheb: Dark Glasses
Golaam: Mishti ta (The Sweet One)
Anjan Dutt, Jimmy the Shaheb
If you had to define Jimmy in one sentence what would you say?
He is fire. He is an anguished soul, who is violent, yet has a certain sensitivity.
Why did Jimmy appeal to you?
Because from 1980 I started off wanting to be an actor and not anything else. I dreamt about the fact that I’ll be a great actor someday soon. It didn’t happen. I did some important films that travelled and I won some awards but the industry didn’t think that I was good enough because I was not the kind of actor that the industry demanded at that point of time. So I turned to direction. But deep within Anjan Dutt, who sings songs or makes Byomkesh or Ranjana, there was that anguished man who wanted to be an actor. And if a good script and a good director spark that spirit it is like getting a second chance.
When the script of Shaheb Bibi Golaam came to me I knew that this would be a different film, it would demand a lot from me. I had a very good cast with me…. I had great trust in Pratim as a director and he was giving me the kind of role nobody would dare to give me — the role of a hardcore, brutal killer. I did it because that long-lost, almost burnt-out dream was again ignited.
At the trailer launch, what would Jimmy be doing?
He wouldn’t care. It is just part of the deal. At the end of it, Jimmy just knows that if the public is interested in good cinema then good cinema will win. Unlike Anjan Dutt, Jimmy is not someone who will be excited about the film or its success.
Ritwick Chakraborty, Javed the Golaam
Who is Javed?
He is the lover. He is irrational, naturally, since he is a romantic. He is the taxi driver.
Is being a taxi driver easy?
Definitely not. It is a difficult job. Ritwick cannot do it as easily as Javed does.
Being directed by Pratim...
This is his third film but my first time working with him. It doesn’t feel like I am working with a director who is working on his third film.
This is your first time playing an out-an-out romantic? Was this why you chose it?
Yes, it is something new for me and I think everyone will end up loving Javed.
Parno Mittra as Rumi
Who is Rumi?
Rumi is the Golaam’s joru. I am playing a girl who is 23-24 years old who is part of this generation that is usually lost in their own world of Facebook and Instagram. They don’t have real friends, their friends are only on Facebook. She meets this guy who is absolutely from a different world and she falls in love with him.
This is the second time you are working with Pratim, after 8 to 8...
Yes. And I’ll work with him again. And I’ll fight with him again. We fight about everything.
Why should people watch this film?
Because it is exciting! I loved the trailer. This is the first time I am watching it. It is fantastic!
Anupam Roy, music director
I was given four situations for which I had to write the songs. There is a Shaheb song, there is a Bibi song and there is a Golaam song, and a celebration song. My songs were about the characters not the film. The Mon bhalo nei song we’ve heard is Golaam’s song and is a soft ballad. Shaheb’s song has been sung by Anjan Dutt, Bibi’s song embodies her sexuality, her personality and her lifestyle.
Vikram Chatterjee
Who are you?
I am Zico. Only thing I’ll say is that there is Shaheb, there is Bibi, there is Golaam, there is Rumi and then there is Zico. Zico and Rumi are the two characters who drive the story forward.
Was it fun playing him?
I can’t believe that I played Zico because I had no idea that I could be cast in a role like this. I was not sure about me playing this. But thankfully Pratimda convinced me. In fact Pratimda’s brief was whatever you do, don’t be yourself.
(L-R) Composer Neel Dutt, producer Firdausul Hasan and musician Neel Adhikari, who has done the background score
Chandreyee Chatterjee. Pictures: Rashbehari Das
