Kolkata Calling

Popular music and its power,its ability to give shape,meaning and intensity to the most indiscernible emotions of daily life,has emerged as a motif of what can be roughly called Bengali multiplex films.

Popular music and its power,its ability to give shape,meaning and intensity to the most indiscernible emotions of daily life,has emerged as a motif of what can be roughly called Bengali multiplex films. Think of Shayan Munshi crooning for the Someplace Else crowd in Bong Connection or the Rock On-inspired climax of Madly Bangalee,Tollywood directors of late have chosen to use music not merely as soundtrack decoration but as the driving force of their scripts.

On book,Birsa Dasguptas 033,which is all set to be released next month,follows suit. Or does it? 033 is the code for the city of Kolkata. The city stands with its 200 years of musical history culminating in the band movement of the nineties. After years,the city has finally been able to absorb the voices of the young and unpredictable into its closely guarded drawing rooms. This film is a tribute to the efforts of the two centuries that have absorbed themselves with music,reflected here through the band named 033 and its young members, says Dasgupta.

The film,claims Dasgupta,is pushed into narrative coherence by the emotional entanglements of the band members with a young girl who wants to make a video on the band,which culminates in a rather precipitous set of crises. The band members need to get out of the city to make their career. Kolkata is a city of displacement,of migration. Though it is never spelt out,the band also faces threat from within. We try and address the issues in our film, says Dasgupta.

The cast of the film comprises some known names,but Dasgupta has chosen not to cast any big star in 033. Parambrata Chattopadhyay,Swastika Mukherjee,Shaheb,Mumtaz Sorcar,Rudranil Ghosh and Dhruv Mukerji are the lead players of the film. Since its a film about young people I needed young actors in my film, says Dasgupta.

A month before its release,Dasgupta seems a little weary about discussing his film. The film has received a lot of media attention. There have been some loose comments too which hasnt really projected the film in the right light. I would only like to say that my film is an emotional drama set against the backdrop of the city. Kolkata plays a very important role in my film and its not just a metaphor, says Dasgupta.

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