How Kolkata captured a Mumbai man

Mahesh Manjrekar, fashionably known as the “blockbuster director of Bollywood”, has turned his eye on Bengali cinema. His successi...

Mahesh Manjrekar, fashionably known as the “blockbuster director of Bollywood”, has turned his eye on Bengali cinema. His successive visits to Kolkata— cinema’s India, as once described by the eminent British critic, Penelope Huston — have persuaded him to make his first Bengali film, Sei Bristir Raate (It rained that night).

The film is being made in the image of Astitva, with a bit of variation. The major part of the film has already been shot at New Jersey with Susmita Sen, Victor Banerjee, Moonmoon Sen and, of course, Tabu of Astitva. Since the film is being made both in Bengali and English, the character of Aditi is being portrayed by Susmita Sen and Tabu respectively. According to Manjrekar, the Bengali film has subtle nuances that typify a serious character like Aditi, representing a subaltern feminism.

As director, he sets out to be a “coordinator of visions” which lead, eventually, to an emotional catharsis.

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Says he, “Don’t think the thread of the narrative is being chased with the same tone and tempo as Astitva. Here you have a variation of a subtle kind and the role of muted feelings is bigger. Emotions are offered larger space to provide relief to this upper middle class drama of a family riddled with marital dissensions”.

Mahesh Manjrekar’s passion seems to have been triggered by the deep impact Bengali films have made on him. As he put it, “Being in Bengal I discover, to my surprise, that the passion for Bengali cinema is very strong here and can seldom be overlooked. Unlike the fans of Hindi films, Bengali film-lovers have not abandoned their feelings for rich culture and strong roots. And this passion for ‘roots’, the love of ‘roots’, is the reason why I decided to launch this two-version project in no time. I have a strong feeling that once I catch up with the authentic sentiments of great Bengali cinema, my problems in making Bengali films would surely blow over.” Manjrekar is clear that despite the frenetic invasion of Bollywood-type cinema, films in Bengal will continue to vibrate with the rhythm of life. This, indeed, is a great tribute to Bengali cinema.

Incidentally, Mahesh Manjrekar himself plays the role of Sreekanta, a parallel character of importance, along with Victor Banerjee. Banerjee, who first came into prominence for his roles in Satyajit Ray’s films, like Pikoo’s Day and Ghare Baire (Home and the World) and, subsequently, in David Lean’s A Passage to India, feels that Manjrekar’s film needs a “very, very special treatment and requires a deal of directorial improvisation and skill”.

The director is no philanthropist, nor does he see himself as a heroic rescuer of Bengali cinema. What he is impressed with is the strength of serious Bengali cinema and the fact that it continues to survive in an age that is increasingly turning frivolous and superficial.

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