Team Korpur recently gathered for a pre-release lunch at Ramanee, the Dakshini cuisine spot, in RCTC. It turned out to be a freewheeling adda over delicious rava dosa, idli, appam, and more. The feast was arranged by filmmaker Arindam Sil, a Ramanee loyalist, whose intriguing socio-political thriller, Korpur, is currently playing in theatres. “I chose this place for a reason. Swaminathan Ramani of Ramanee has been a friend and supporter since the after-party of my first film at his Wall restaurant. The airy interiors here, with just the right touch of white, resonate beautifully with our film’s title. Besides, it boasts some of the finest South Indian food in Calcutta,” said Arindam.
Cast member Bratya Basu chimed in with a playful observation, “While we coordinated the restaurant’s colour scheme with Korpur, it’s refreshing to see a Bengali film that portrays characters who are all almost dark and complex.” Arindam emphasised the word “almost.” “I had the privilege of working with some outstanding actors, each bringing their characters to life organically. Every actor’s performance is palpably real. From what I’ve heard, viewers can’t take their eyes off Bratyada when he’s on screen.” The cast nodded in agreement, recalling the fervour he displayed during filming. “Arindam and I have a mutual passion for great cinema,” Bratya added, and the depth of their connection was clear as they reminisced about the films they’ve watched and discussed, including those by Wong Kar-wai.
“It was heartening to witness the camaraderie between you both (Bratya and Arindam) on set; it truly translated well onto the screen,” Rituparna remarked. For Arindam, a standout moment was directing Bratya during a pivotal scene at a blood donation camp. “His expression was so intense, even as everything else faded into soft focus,” Arindam recalled fondly.
Arindam further shared how Bratya was originally set to portray Shaheb Chattopadhyay’s character. “Luckily, Bratyada chose to give up my role in the film,” Shaheb quipped with a smile. Bratya remarked, “For me, it was a clear-cut choice. As a politician, I felt the urge to step away from portraying political characters. I believe Shaheb truly excelled in his performance. Initially, I didn’t perceive a distinct protagonist, but as I paid closer attention to Shaheb’s character, it became apparent that he rose to the focal point of the story with his performance.”
Shaheb, who appears in many of Arindam’s films, noted, “Arindamda has a unique approach to every film. Each project feels different. This one is especially distinct; the dialogue progression and the arrangement of events are captivating. I relied on his direction for my performance.”
In the ensuing discussion, Arindam expressed his eagerness to introduce Rituparna’s character to the audience. “This film treads a grey area; the usual portrayal of men as villains and women as heroes is too simplistic. Rituparna’s character exists in this ambiguous space, challenging the audience to either embrace or reject her. This journey showcases her acting brilliance, transforming her from a state of confusion to something truly sublime,” said Bratya.
Rituparna Sengupta plays Mousumi, inspired by Manisha Mukherjee, an official from Calcutta University who mysteriously vanished in the late 1990s. This intriguing real-life account is adapted from Dipanwita Roy’s novel Antardhaner Nepathey. “Mousumi is a character who, despite being surrounded by men, commands authority. To exert her influence, she requires respect from them,” Arindam explained. Rituparna added, “Though she wields power in her world, she also experiences profound vulnerability — this creates a fascinating conflict. Arindam prompted me to explore that internal struggle within my character.” Bratya noted, “For Rituparna, this film signifies a pivotal moment. She navigates the complexities of a printing press, negotiating prices for question papers. Her portrayal, given her middle-class background, is truly remarkable.”
Ananya Banerjee’s portrayal of the dynamic news editor has sparked considerable discussion. Arindam remarked, “She has a remarkable presence and a distinctive ability to command attention in every scene. We took an innovative approach with her voice dub, which highlighted her talent even more. Throughout our work together, I realised she is a director’s actor. She imitates the director really well.” When asked about her favourite dialogue, Ananya fondly quoted, “Urdi ami charleo, urdi amay chare na,” a line she connects with the cherished bond between Arindam and Bratya that resonated with her, much like it did for Rituparna.
In his parting words, Arindam left us and his cast on a note of intrigue: “This is the first time we’ve aimed to depict the years 1997 and 2019 using the same camera movement. I can’t wait for all of you to see how this unfolds on screen. While monochrome is typically used to evoke the past, we chose warm tones to represent it in this film, with the present depicted in blue hues.” Shaheb noted the team’s impressive ability to shoot in varied locations in such a short span. Rituparna shared her gratitude for Arindam, stating he was her primary reference for character development, aside from Dipanwita Roy’s writing. “Arindam pushes me to explore more layers of my craft, and he crafted an outstanding look for this role, with the only references being him and Roy’s text.” Bratya praised Dipanwita’s talent, adding, “She truly deserves all the accolades she receives. I believe this film has the potential for a sequel.” Arindam chimed in, “Many viewers have shared their thoughts on Bratya’s character, and quite a few believe it could be the foundation for a franchise.”
Producer Firdausul Hasan, who couldn’t join the team due to other commitments, shared: “The journey of Korpur has been fulfilling, because it has a strong storyline, drawing on true incidents, the mysterious disappearance of an important person and it is based on a novel. The actors have delivered in a powerful and convincing way and the audience has shown love towards the film. In that, the team of Korpur is happy. We dared to be release our film with Dhurandhar 2, and we took up the challenge. Now it is up to the audience to stand by good films.” Hasan has produced the film with Adipto Mozumder.
