“Dada, shooting hochchhe? Kara eshechhe? Biye-r scene?” A crowd that had gathered beside CE Block Green Verge on the second lane kept shooting questions at anyone stepping out of the house where a movie was being shot.
What kept them rooted to the spot was the star cast, headlined by Dev, also including the legendary Sabitri Chatterjee, Biswajit Chakraborty, Tulika Basu and Soumitrisha Kundu, as director Avijit Sen shot for his movie Pradhan, which is planned for a Christmas release.
A decorative arch had been erected on the lane, half of which was covered with a red carpet. The house was done up with flowers; heavy equipment were kept on the sides and the guards kept asking people not to stand in front and take pictures.
Kanchan Ghorai had waited almost two hours for a glimpse of Dev. “I have failed to spot him yet, but I have to return to work now as I am getting calls,” said the lady who works locally as a domestic help.
Bachchu Das had parked his auto two lanes away. “I was ferrying passengers when I spotted the shooting van. Shopkeepers told me Dev was shooting so I came back,” smiled the auto driver on the Karunamayee-Ultadanga route. “I watch all his films. My favourite is Poran Jay Joliya Re,” he smiled.
Piya Guin wanted a glimpse of Mithai (Soumitrisha). “I loved that TV show. I got news of the shooting from boudi at the house where I work and finished work fast,” said Piya, who works in CF Block.
Landlord Tapan Som kept going in and out of the room to check if things were in order whenever he heard a sound inside the hall. The shooting was taking place in a first floor room. “They have taken four rooms, the hall and the terrace. This offer came to us through a friend, and after a bit of persuasion, we agreed. This is a first time we have let out our house for shooting. They have been moving things about and setting up the place for almost a week. Even today they were here by 6.30 am.”
Som managed to speak to Sabitri Chatterjee and Dev. “Dev is wonderful, as is the director. They are all well-behaved. There are around 180 people inside the house. It is not easy to make so many people work together but they are doing a wonderful job,” Som told The Telegraph Salt Lake.
Samita Majumder was puzzled to see the decorations happening next door. “I was sure there was no wedding. Today morning, Tapanda asked my husband to move our cars for a shoot. When I went to the balcony I saw Dev leaving. I have seen him in Chander Pahar. I tried to get a glimpse of Sabitri Chatterjee from my room but their windows are blocked with reflectors,” she said.
But not everyone was thrilled with the shoot and raised the matter at the councillor’s meet on Sunday. “The guards asked me to keep my car in the garage all day,” said a resident. Another claimed he was asked to not soil the carpet as he drove out.
“The six houses in the lane should have been informed well in advance,” he said. Councillor Sabyasachi Dutta told them that no permission had been taken from him or the Corporation. “If the administration does not have prior knowledge, imagine what would happen if there is a law and order situation!” he asked.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SUDESHNA BANERJEE
