In the film Cheene Baadaam (which releases today), Rishabh (Yash Dasgupta) is a techie who creates a mobile app called Cheene Baadaam (Peanuts). The app finds friends for lonely people. Rishabh’s girlfriend Trisha (Ena Saha) also helps him build the app. But in this project, their personal relationship comes under the scanner. The Telegraph chat.
What attracted you to the storyline of Cheene Baadaam?
Yash: The content of the film seemed relevant in today’s time. It has a fresh and positive perspective, the audience today can totally relate to the subject.
Tell us about your character in the film?
Yash: I play Rishabh who comes back to his hometown after completing his education abroad… he comes up with an interesting idea of developing an app keeping just friendship in mind. Rishabh is a simple guy with a big dream… his intention is to make people bond but eventually in the process he ends up doing just the opposite in his own life. Rishabh has been an interesting character to play.
Ena: Trisha is a simple girl, she is the girl next door. Her needs from life are very simple. She has a sweet love life and she wants some we-time from her boyfriend. She wants to talk to him. She is a very emotional person and values all her relationships. She tries to balance it out in all spheres.
Yash, the trailer has got some really positive feedback. In the comments section, your fans are saying that the film has a fresh storyline and they are seeing you in a new way. They are really excited. What are your thoughts on this?
Yash: Anything positive is most welcome… they loved me when I danced and fought… they are supportive of me when I’m trying some new flavours of acting. I’m happy to learn that. Their support indeed makes us who we are. I’m grateful.
There’s a line in the trailer where Rishabh says, ‘People would meet each other before they had smartphones.’ Do you agree? What’s your take on this observation?
Yash: As we grew up we realised how less complicated lives were back then… we have seen our parents have pen friends… have heard and known people decide to meet on a particular day in a place on a specific time… and even without communication they showed up. Life was based on a little bit more of faith and words were kept… the whole process kept people excited… with everything so easily available to us now… from communication to grocery at your fingertips, where on one side life got easier with the pros, the cons took its simplicity away… we take things, people, time and emotions for granted.
Ena: Things have become easy after smartphones came into our lives but the importance of valuing everything is fading slowly. Everything has become easy... earlier when we used to travel, we would get to meet and make friends with other families and people. It might still happen but we don’t savour the moments like we used to earlier. The importance that we used to attach to various things or relationships often tends to fade away with time since we are used to getting things very easily. If we work towards something and really struggle hard to achieve it, we would understand its importance.
A moment from Cheene Baadaam, which releases today
Yash, your character is very enterprising, disciplined and a thorough professional. Could you identify at any level with your character?
Yash: I feel anyone who seems to take themselves seriously in life ought to be identifying themselves with the adjectives and I’m no different. Thoughts might differ… goals might be various but if one is not a thorough professional then it’s not going to get you where you want to reach.
Since the film is also about an app, which are your favourite apps? How much time do you spend on them?
Yash: My phone is quite a boring one… I’m mostly into apps that enlighten me about daily news... also fitness apps… and a little bit of social media #bcozitstrending.
Ena: I primarily use shopping apps. For me, shopping is a route to stress relief. If I get the time, I also play Candy Crush. Also, I love the music apps. In the film, one can make friends through this Cheene Baadaam app. You can ‘order’ a friend whose interests match with you. That friend can come and give someone company.
How do you like to navigate the world of social media? How much of yourself do you like to put out on social media?
Yash: Both are interlinked… social media has its pros too... it keeps you entertained on days when you just don’t want to think much and scroll up and down for some glossy peek into anyone’s life… while what you navigate and how also decides whether it gives you food for thought or not… I’m a private person whose belief has been challenged by the changing times... we all need to adapt to it... to grow and sustain.
Ena: I am on social media mostly because of my profession. To some extent, it is nice, has its advantages... but I don’t like to be on it all the time. Of course, I log in for some time... check my profile and my company’s, and I keep in touch with my friends.
Where do you draw the line on social media... in terms of protecting your privacy?
Yash: The right to protection of privacy is still to an extent in our hands… that does not really mean that it isn’t hindered from time to time, but the key to control is that at times we don’t really serve what is cooked... and it’s not being fake… or misleading… it’s just about keeping things happening in one’s life. I’m not against anyone who’s all out on social media… whatever makes people happy… keeping my life close to myself makes me a happier one.
With Habji Gabji in theatres, and Cheene Baadaam releasing, we have two films that highlight the pros and cons of smartphones. Both are socially relevant and tech savvy. Do you feel that makers of Bengali cinema are updating themselves and trying to innovate with the content?
Yash: The audience is exposed to a wide range of choices. I am glad that cinema has been evolving... it’s important that we respect the demands of our consumers and give them variety of all sorts.
How was your shooting experience of Cheene Baadam?
Yash: We shot mostly in the city… it was a start-to-finish schedule… we worked hard as a team, and now we hope to reap positive results.
Ena: We had a lot of fun shooting for the film. Our director (Shiladitya Moulik) is really cool... it felt like we were having a picnic. On the sets, he’s was like, ‘Chill, everything will be fine.’
You also shot in Kashmir. How was that experience?
Yash: I’ve shot in Kashmir before... and this time we were welcomed with snowfall on the very first day of our arrival… we were scheduled to shoot in Gulmarg but due to heavy snowfall we had to change our plans. Kashmir is a beautiful place... the more you say is less… we did take a few days off post-shoot to enjoy the valley… we indulged in some local food and explored the lanes of the city… people there are warm and very welcoming.
Ena: We travelled a lot. I really enjoyed the snowfall. This was my first Kashmir trip.
Yash, how was it like working with Ena?
Yash: I’ve worked with Ena before in SOS Kolkata… it’s always nice to work with people who you have known… she has a long way to go… wish her all the best.
Ena, how was it like working with Yash?
Ena: It was really nice working with Yash. He is a very good friend so there is a nice comfort zone.
What’s your takeaway from the Cheene Baadam experience?
Yash: Every actor has something new to learn with every work they do… similarly I too have my own takeaways from this film… a film that made me think about utilisation of smartphones to our emotional needs… and how the same can push you away from what you love… so it is upon us on how we balance everything out in life to maintain the equilibrium.
Ena: The moments that I have shared with the team while shooting for the film. Also, the inherent theme of the film reminded me once again the importance of relationships in our lives... it resonated with me.
Picture: Rashbehari Das
Location courtesy: The Astor
