Adman-turned-filmmaker Anik Dutta is still remembered for his debut movie,Bhooter Bhabishyat (2012) that had the audience in splits. Revolving around a haunted mansion, the movie had raked in the moolah, riding high on satire and pun. However, his two subsequent films, Ashchorjyo Prodeep andMeghnadbodh Rohoshyo, a dark satire and mystery thriller respectively, did not live up to the expectations created by his first movie.
In his fourth film, Bhobishyoter Bhoot, that will release this February 15, Dutta has taken no risks and fallen back to ghosts again. A satirical take on the socio-political issues currently plaguing Bengal, the film stars Kaushik Sen, Reshmi Sen, Chandan Sen, Kharaj Mukherjee, Barun Chanda, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Chandreyee Ghosh, and Swastika Mukherjee, besides others, and has spectres taking shelter in a refugee camp due to lack of space.
Currently, the director is busy shooting his fifth film based on late author Ramapada Choudhury’s story. With Soumitra Chatterjee in the lead, it revolves around a self-centred old man, who has cut off all social ties and how an incident changes him.
Dutta talks with Indulge about ghosts of past, present and future. Excerpts:
Are you banking on ghosts in the hope of another hit?
If I were to capitalise on Bhooter Bhabishyat, I should have done so with my second film. But Ashchorjyo Prodeep was a dark satire that had a bitter ending and Meghnadbodh Rohoshyo was a mystery thriller. I don’t believe in sequels since there is a fair chance of them not working. Films should have entertainment value and this movie is full of action and high on drama with an underlying message, which I thought was best to put across through ghosts.
We notice in the trailer of your movie the same light motif of a star shown in Satyajit Ray’s Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne.
I have used the motif deliberately. It is shown in the background of the room of the chief of ghosts, played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty, who is the CEO of Phantom Incorporation. What can be a better logo than that?
You had faced obstacles while making Bhobishyoter Bhoot, including a court case filed by a production house.
We completed shooting in almost a guerilla war-like fashion. Whatever happened was initiated by them, so, they should be answering. But if any further attempt is made to block the film I will not take it lying down.
You are known as a straight talker in the industry.
I do the talking through my films, but I also believe that life is too short to be always diplomatic. If something disturbs me deeply, I respond immediately and spontaneously rather than waiting for months to say it through films.
Many have written you off as a one-film wonder.
Do you call Ramesh Sippy, who madeSholay, a one-movie wonder? Or, can Satyajit Ray be considered a failure since his second and third films didn’t do well in the box office? Aparajito, one of the best works of Ray, didn’t do commercially well at all. In fact, my third film, Meghnadbodh Rohoshyowas much appreciated by film critics and I consider it to be my best movie, so far. Box office is not the only yard stick to measure success.
@sharmidas
sharmishtha.g@newindianexpress.com