SVF

History With A Twist

A decade after Abir Chatterjee made his debut in the Bangla film industry, he has proved himself to be a versatile and one of the most bankable stars. His last few films were not only money spinners, but they also opened to rave reviews. As Durgeshgorer Guptodhon hits screens this Friday, the actor talks to Titas Chowdhury about his character in the film, his journey in the industry so far, trolls and female fans

On The Film

Durgeshgorer Guptodhon is not a quintessential thriller. You could call it an adventure film or maybe a treasure hunt. But, sure, there is an element of thrill throughout the film. It is mainly about the trail followed by this trio to unearth a treasure when they spend their Durga Pujo holidays at a student’s native place.

I play Subarna Sen aka Sonada, a history professor. On hearing about this trip, my character jumps at the opportunity. He feels like it will be fun to spend the holidays away from the hustle and bustle of Kolkata and he will also get to learn about the history of the festival. The main themes of the film are historical relevance, inheritance and the inherent Bengali-ness that looms large. Much like the first instalment in the franchise, Guptodhoner Sondhane, the second film gives you loads of information without being preachy.

On Mystery-Adventure Films

There aren’t any Bangla films that are completely based on a treasure hunt but we have all heard these stories from our grandparents. When I was young, I was exposed to Jakher Dhan (an old Bengali film) and I have watched other adventure films from the West. However, I can’t really choose a favourite.

On Comparisons With Feluda And Byomkesh

Unlike them, Sonada is not a sleuth; he is a cool and friendly history professor. We cannot compare him to Feluda and Byomkesh. This is not a literature-based film. The characters here are created for the film itself. This is a film that is made for the young generation. We are very possessive about these iconic characters like Feluda and Byomkesh. We get nostalgic when we hear about them. Does that mean that we won’t create anything new for the next generation? With Sonada, we are giving them a character that belongs to their time. But the older generation can also connect to the film because of the nostalgic value attached to it….Click here to read the full story