Rabindranath Tagores works have provided fodder for many a film over the years,but for the first time the Nobel laureate himself is the subject matter of an upcoming Bengali movie. Tagore has a significant presence in ace ad filmmaker Amit Sens debut film Natobar Not Out which is releasing soon to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of the Bard. Sen insists that the release is a coincidence rather than an attempt to cash in on the sesquicentennial birth anniversary of the poet and the Bengali sentiment associated with it. Tagore is a very important and integral part in the form of a Muse in Natobar Not Out which has north Kolkata as the backdrop where the great poet was bornand raised, said Sen. Nearly 70 years after his demise,Tagore still rules the hearts of Bengalis and people elsewhere in the world through his poetry,music,painting and dance as he inspires both established and budding poets of today. He lives in the psyche and the film has the brooding presence of him throughout, Sen explained on the eve of the films release here and abroad. However,Sen said,he had not attempted to create something lofty. Far from it! I did not aim at anything big,but a clean family entertainer which will appeal to the senses of the audience of all categories. Sen,a graduate of the Pune Film Institute boasting a repertoire of 500-600 ad films,said he dedcided to set the film in north Kolkata because it is where Tagore still lives through Prabhat Pheris (morning processions with colorful tableaux to commemorate Tagores birthday on 25th Baisakh (first month in the Bengali calendar) and Rabindra Sangeet. The films plot revolves around actress Raima Sen and Natobars character,essayed by debutante actor from Bangladesh Mustafa Prakash. Like a touchstone,Tagores contact with Natobar,a hopeless poet,turns his mediocrity into creativity and thus begins a new phase in his life, the filmmaker said. The movie also has a host of queer characters and new age comic elements. While it will have the glorious comic traditions of cult Bengali classics like Basanta Bilap and Bhranti Bilas,the look,feel and subject of Natobar will be contemporary, Sen says. Explaining how he was hooked to the role,Prakash,the upcoming actor paired opposite Raima,said,Tell me which Bengali has not ever read Tagores work or had not tried penning a poem? I had grown up reading Tagore. Prakash said he was drawn to the script because of the fresh comedy element. Its USP is the very Bengaliness,which brings back the charm of yesteryear films which I have been familiar with. Sounding upbeat about her role,Raima said she was eagerly waiting for the audience feedback on her character of a rooted,simple,north Kolkata girl.
