‘Language of cinema same around the world’ says Shiboprosad

Director duo Shiboprosad Mukhopaddhay and Nandita Roy from the West Bengal have collaborated in a good number of movies. They are the brains behind the scenes of films like "Bela Seshe", "Praktan" and "Haami". These movies garnered appreciation from Bengali movie buffs not only from West Bengal but from Bangladesh as well.

Yet another film directed by this duo got released this year. The name of the movie is "Konttho" that stars Bangladeshi actor Jaya Ahsan, among others. The movie hit the screens in Bangladesh on November 8 (Friday).

Directors Shiboprosad Mukhopaddhay and Nandita Roy are now in Dhaka on a publicity campaign for the movie. They talked to The Business Standard the day before the film's release. Mentionable, Shiboprosad has also played the principal character in the movie.

At the outset of the discussion this correspondent wanted to know how he manages both as an actor and a director. His answer made it obvious he was well-prepared for this question. "I came to the cinema industry to work as an actor, but that did not happen; it is not very often I can act in a movie," the director stated.

"The other director of the film, Nandita Roy gave me the opportunity to act in this film, for which I am grateful to her," Shibobrota continued. "It was a pleasure to share the screen with actors like Paoli Dam and Jaya Ahsan," he added.

"I have worked both as a director and an actor in the movie so I can say working with director Shiboprosad was a good experience for actor Shiboprosad," he said.

However, when asked how he would evaluate actor Shiboprosad, he said that the other director Nandita Roy and the audience of "Kantha" can say it better.

He was also asked to explain why the audience in Bangladesh will watch "Konttho" that received commercial success in West Bengal.

Shiboprosad thought for a while before answering to the question, "Movies like 'Matir Moina', 'Aha Re'and 'Ainabazi' have won the hearts of the people of Bangladesh, which have also won my heart. In the same way many our films like 'Bela Seshe', 'Praktan', 'Posto' and 'Haami' that were blockbuster in India got appreciation from the Bangladeshi audience as well. From that point of view, I can say the language of cinema is the same all around the world.

"The audience in India have liked our movie "Konttho" so I believe the Bangladeshi audience will like it too. But we have actually nothing to do if the people in Bangladesh do not like it."

The director informed that he met with superstar Shakib Khan soon after arriving in Dhaka. The popular actor from Bangladesh might be seen in some of their upcoming projects anytime soon.

Shiboprosad also showed interest in working with Bipasha Hayat, Shomi Kaiser and Ferdous Ahmed.

However, "Konttho" is the first project where director duo Shibo-Nandita have worked with Bangladeshi actor Jaya Ahsan who over time has gained fame in West Bengal. Shiboprosad gave Jaya Ahsan 9 marks out 10 as an actor.

Asked for his observation about Bangladeshi cinema and actors, Shiboprosad came up with a different type of revelation. He said he also worked in a Bangladeshi cinema. That too was his first role as a hero. The movie "Ekti Nodir Nam" produced by Ashirbad Kathachitra casted Shomi Kaiser against him.

Shiboprosad still bears the memories of Bangladesh probably because he worked in a movie here at the early stage of his career.

However, Bangladesh is in his blood not only for career-related reasons, his ancestral house is in Bangladesh. His forefathers used to live in Uzirpur, Barishal. Shiboprosad has a desire to visit his ancestral place this time around. He wants to return to Kolkata with the smell of the residence of his ancestors.