Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's Dear Maa stood out in many ways, and one such memorable aspect of the film is the performance of the child actors. Six-year-old Ahana, who shot for the film when she was five, and Nandika Das, who is now a seventh grader but shot for the film when she was in the sixth grade, have wowed the audience with their brilliant performances. A t2 chat with the little stars of Dear Maa, director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and co-producer Indrani Mukerjee at Flurys, Purna Das Road, over ham sandwiches and hot chocolate...

How did you find the child actors? Was it through auditions?

Aniruddha: No, I spotted Ahana leaning out of my friend’s car and was captivated by her expressive eyes. I decided she would be Jhimli. For the teenage Jhimli, I wanted a non-actor, so my friend Sukanya, who is a teacher at Nandika’s school, recommended her. It felt like destiny. I spent two to three months at home with them, helping them understand their characters through informal discussions.
Nandika: I was in fifth grade when I met Tony Uncle. We shot the film while I was in sixth grade, and now it’s being released while I’m in seventh. (Laughs) I loved seeing myself on the big screen! Initially, I didn’t know he wanted to make a film with me, but my mother explained it to me after we went to meet him at his house.

Ahana, how did you feel about seeing yourself on screen? What do your friends say?

Ahana: I loved it! I saw myself on the posters on the road. Everyone is congratulating me, and my friends at school are going crazy, saying, “Ahana is now an actor!” (Everyone laughs)
Nandika: She even fell asleep at PVR-INOX while watching the film but only after seeing her part before the interval!
Ahana: I had so much fun shooting. I want to do more! (Everyone laughs)
Aniruddha: Should I write another script for you?
Ahana: Yes! I didn’t have to study while shooting, but my mother would scold me when I got home. She would ask me to eat eggs and drink water. I like being with Tony!

Who pampered you on set?

Ahana: Jaya mummum! And aunty (Indrani) gave me chocolates.
Aniruddha: She still calls them mummum and babi; what do you call me other than Tony?
Ahana: Director! (Everyone laughs)

Who helped you learn your dialogues?

Ahana: Tony only actually helped me a lot! (Everyone laughs at how she emphasised the word 'actually')
Nandika: He encouraged us not to memorise but to understand and feel our performances. He didn’t even allow me to use glycerine in the crying scenes. He said we can’t cheat the camera.
Aniruddha: I told them not to imitate me but to perform based on their understanding.
Indrani: They had a great time and no tantrums.

Indranidi, what was your response to Dear Maa when you first heard it?

Indrani: It’s a sensitive topic that needed telling. Working with Tony is challenging as it is tough to satisfy him but enjoyable. We had many creative sessions as a team.

Aniruddhada, how important is it to share the script with Indranidi first?

Aniruddha: Very important; if she says no, the project won’t happen. She asks key creative questions.
Indrani: Our creative interaction is essential, allowing everyone to contribute.
Aniruddha: There were 18 drafts, and I enjoy being involved in every aspect of production.

What was your experience working with child actors?

Indrani: We had experience with kids in advertising, which helped. They were dedicated and displayed incredible spontaneity.
Aniruddha: Their authentic reactions made it a rewarding experience. We were pleasantly surprised by their performances.

Ahana and Nandika, what fun experiences did you have while filming?

Nandika: The most memorable moments were during the workshop! We enjoyed delicious momos. The ice cream scene was a blast! I nearly cleared the dosa every time during rehearsal, and the staff wouldn’t refill until Tony uncle gave the go-ahead. My favourite moment was the waking-up scene as that is the only scene where I didn’t have to fight with her (Jaya); I even got to relax while they set up the lights.
Ahana: I loved walking on the beach with Jaya mummum and Chandan babi, and swam with Tony in the hotel. But I am better than him at swimming!
Nandika: Ahana is great at creating new games, and we were spoiled with food. She mostly had dal bhaat and chocolates, but we had a variety to indulge in. We were never starved!
Aniruddha: This film gave me two more daughters — one in America and two here. Our bond is as strong as the one I have with my own daughter.