Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty is on a roll with Adventures of Jojo

Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty is charting new grounds with his first children’s film
Still from Adventures of Jojo
Still from Adventures of Jojo

From a small town boy to one of the most successful commercial filmmakers of Tollywood, Raj Chakraborty’s journey is no less colourful than the potboilers he makes. The director, who kick started his film career with blockbuster Chirodini Tumi Je Amarin 2008, and has more than 16 films under his belt, still remains that down-to earth man from Halisahar, a suburb about 50 kms away from Kolkata. Looking uber cool  in a casual white tee and a smart black jacket, the soft spoken filmmaker sat for a chat with Indulge at his brightly done-up office in South Kolkata, before the release his film, Adventures of Jojo, on December 21. Excerpts:

<em>Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty</em>
Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty

Why did you think of making children’s movie?

Since 2007 I had wanted to make a children’s movie. I wanted to make a film based on Leela Majumder’s book, Tongling and also bought the rights of the book. But I couldn’t find producers for a children’s movie because of the perceived dim commercial prospects. So, I thought of making mainstream movies to build credibility for myself and pursue my dream. After 11 years when SVF agreed to produce Tongling, the rights to make it lapsed and couldn’t be renewed.

When was Adventures of Jojo conceived?

Initially I was sad that I couldn’t make Tongling, since it was my dream project. I was reading a lot of books on wildlife around that time and came across a book by an Assamese writer Arup Dutta. An idea struck me which I developed into a script along with actor scriptwriter Padmanava Dasgupta and Adventures of Jojo happened.

<em>Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty in the sets of Adventures of Jojo with actor Rudranil Ghosh</em>
Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty in the sets of Adventures of Jojo with actor Rudranil Ghosh

How different is this movie from other children’s films?

I have always made cinema on a large scale with lot of drama, be it romance, thriller, action or sports. In this movie, Jojo, the young boy takes it upon himself to save a tiger called Chengiz with his friend Shibu. Jojo is a city bred boy and his friendship with Shibu, the rustic son of a mahout (elephant handler) transcends social class. It’s a story of friendship, adventure, tiger poaching and forest conservation all packed into one.

Your last release Bolo Dugga Mai Ki (2017) didn’t do well in the Box Office. Are you stressed about Adventures of Jojo’s fate?

There’s no pressure at all. I have taken it up as a challenge to prove that I can handle a different movie.

<em>Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty</em>
Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty

What have you learnt in these ten years of filmmaking?

Only honesty, dedication and determination will lead to success and that one shouldn’t blame others for their failure.

What are the other movies that you are working on?

From January 7 next year I will start shooting a thriller with actor Jeet. It’s a kind of thriller that Jeet has never done, you will get to see a new Jeet.

You just got married to actor Shubhasree. How has life changed?

She is a wonderful person and we all live together in a joint family. She is sensitive and values relationships. Life has not changed much except that nowadays, I wrap up work as early as possible to be with her.

@sharmidas
sharmishtha.g@newindianexpress.com

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