Cinematic Catharsis

“The play made me feel accepted in society. The film has given me some fame. But it is all momentary. I have the responsibility of looking after more ex-prisoners,who work with me,” says Akkara,talking about his life after being in the prison for eight years.

Muktodhara,which is running to full houses in West Bengal is loosely based on Akkara’s life,who spent nine years in the jail with 19 cases running against him. Eventually,he was acquitted in some.

Akkara began working with various gangs at the age of 15,some years after his father,an army officer,died in a road accident. “I wanted to be an army officer as a kid,but somehow got involved in kidnapping,extortion and contract killing,” says Akkara,who does not dwell on the days gone past but says,“What I did was wrong. And there is no excuse for it. But Ma (Alokananda) and her love for me,had me reformed.”

Alokananda remembers her first visit to the Presidency Jail and can’t forget Nigel’s question to her,“Ab gunde ghungroo pehnenge?” Roy wasn’t deterred. She chose Akkara to play Valmiki’s role. Once the rehearsals began,the process of reformation got underway. “I never thought this was possible. But it was all about trusting them as actors and treating them as normal people. I figured that normalcy is the only thing that can bring them back from the abyss. It’s been a beautiful journey for me and Nigel. The relationship we share is so special,” says Alokananda.

Akkara now works with ex-inmates at Kolkata Facilities Management,his own firm that provides security services,house-keeping and pest-control services. “I got my chance to change. Now I want to provide a platform for other ex-prisoners,” he says.

Nandita adds that while filming Muktodhara,there were many heartfelt moments. “When the subject is close to real life,shoots are a little different,” says Nandita,remembering a scene from the film where Akkara had to fall on his feet and had to scream for penance. “He did it so well. With him it all comes from the heart. I welled up and ran to hug him,” adds Nandita.

Akkara is happy with the attention but does not want to get carried away by it and a host of scripts landing up at his desk everyday. “I have my business to handle and my friends,who have also suffered like me,to look after. In my free time I love listening to instrumental music,meditating and talking to my mother. She is a much happier person now,” says Akkara.