A gifted dancer's big break into movies
Prosenjit and Sudeshna in a scene from “Mon-er Manush”.
One of the up and coming young Dhaka dancers, Sudeshna Swayamprabha, unintentionally got her big break into movies recently. Unintentionally, because Sudeshna's undeterred passion lies in dance and she has not been keen on acting. Big break, as the movie -- "Mon-er Manush" -- in question is a biopic of the mystic bard Lalon (based on a Sunil Gangopadhyay novel) and is being directed by internationally renowned helmer Goutam Ghosh.
"Mon-er Manush" is an Indo-Bangladesh joint venture. Bangladeshi producer Habibur Rahman Khan has joined hands with Kolkata-based producer Goutam Kundu to make this film. Incidentally, Khan's Ashirbad Chalchitra had also produced Ritwik Ghatak's "Titas Ekti Nadir Naam" and Goutam Ghosh's "Padma Nadir Majhi". West Bengal actor Prosenjit Chatterjee will play the protagonist.
Sudeshna plays the role of Golapi, Lalon's wife. How did she land the role? "At last year's Ibsen Festival, my mother's (noted dancer and exponent Sharmila Bandopadhyay) troupe Nrityanandan staged an adaptation of "The Lady from the Sea." Habib Khan was in the audience and apparently he liked my performance. He asked my mother if I'd be interested in acting in the film. Initially, both my mother and I were reluctant, but Khan approached us on several occasions.
"My mother changed her decision and encouraged me to meet Goutam Ghosh, because (a) this is Goutam Ghosh we're talking about! and (b) the movie is based on Lalon's life," she says.
From the Bangladeshi side, the cast includes Raisul Islam Asad, Champa, Hasan Imam and Chanchal Chowdhury. Apart from Prosenjit, other Indian actors in the movie are Priyanshu Chatterjee and Paoli Dham.
According to Sudeshna, shooting should wrap up by next month. So far the film has been shot in Shanti Niketan (India), Bikrampur (Bangladesh) and the Haor area in Sunamganj (Bangladesh).
How did it feel facing a movie camera for the first time? "I don't have stage fright, as I've been performing since childhood. And as many would agree, acting comes easy when you're a dancer. But, yes, of course it was my first time facing a movie camera and the first scene we shot involved Prosenjit and me. It was somewhat intimidating. However, the director and the actor were both very understanding and they put me at ease," she says.
"My mother and father (recitor Bhaswar Bandopadhyay) have been constant sources of inspiration. My mother helped me with my costume as well," she adds.
Are more films/TV plays in her future? "Dance is and will always remain my priority. But if I come across a good script, why not?”
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