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Talented
Bengali actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen is working on a multi-lingual film
titled "The Japanese Wife", based on a story by Indo-Anglian author
Kunal Basu.
"'The
Japanese Wife' is Kunal Basu's unpublished story. But I think Harper
Collins will publish the story soon. I fell in love with the story and
since the author admires my work, he agreed to let me film it," Sen
told IANS.
The film stars Rahul Bose, Raima Sen and Moushumi
Chatterjee, and Japanese actress Chigasu Takaku, in the title role. It
is in English, Bengali and Japanese.
"It's a haunting and
improbable love story about a schoolteacher in Sundarbans, who becomes
pen pals with an equally shy Japanese girl. Their letters to each other
are endearingly wonky since they both speak and write an imperfect
English."
Asked whether she would make a Hindi film, Sen said:
"I can make a Hindi film anytime. I've three Hindi scripts. Even my
proposed Bengali film 'The Jewellery Box' might have to be made in
Hindi because it requires a big budget. I wouldn't have minded making
'The Japanese Wife' in Hindi. But which Hindi producer would invest in
this?"
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: You're constantly
travelling among three cities Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. And now you're
making a film that encompasses three languages?
A: Yes, "The
Japanese Wife" is in three languages. Now, I'm holding a workshop with
my actors for the film. We start shooting end of March and finish in
June. We want to shoot in Japan when the cherry blossom season starts.
Q: Sounds very interesting.
A:
For the first time I'm filming someone else's story. He's an
English-language author Kunal Basu, who writes from Oxford. "The
Japanese Wife" is his unpublished story. But I think Harper Collins
will publish the story soon. I fell in love with the story and since
the author admires my work, he agreed to let me film it. I can praise
it since I haven't written it.
It's a haunting and improbable
love story about a schoolteacher in Sundarbans, who becomes pen pals
with an equally shy Japanese girl. Their letters to each other are
endearingly wonky since they both speak and write an imperfect English.
Q: Your most romantic film to date and Rahul's most romantic film ever.
A:
Yes, Rahul is so wonderfully attached to the project. After two earlier
films, we share a very comfortable relationship. It's so difficult to
make other actors in Mumbai believe in workshops and rehearsals. A
multi-lingual project such as this requires actors who believe and
surrender completely. Rahul fits the bill. We've a Japanese actress
Chigasu Takaku playing the title role.
And I'm working with
Moushumi Chatterjee for the first time as a director. We've done a
couple of Bengali films together as co-stars. She's brilliant. See,
"The Japanese Wife" is also funny. And Moushumi is a natural at humour.
She has wonderful comic timing. Even my daughter Konkona (Sen Sharma)
is wonderful at comedy.
Q: It's amazing how Konkona has evolved as an actor.
A:
Konkona has a rare gift as an actor. She doesn't let success go to her
head. Acting is a lot of fun for her. She's doing everything right,
going to the gym religiously even when she's too lazy to do so.
Do
you know she almost had to give up "Omkara"? She fell ill. She had this
fever that just went on for months. We were so worried. It was just
terrible. I asked Vishal Bharadwaj if he wanted to have another actress
on stand-by. He refused. As a fellow filmmaker I knew that was
impractical. But Vishal insisted.
Q: Who's producing "The Japanese Wife"?
A:
This is Sa Re Ga Ma film. I've joined Sa Re Ga Ma as the head of the
Bengali division. I've always had a job outside cinema so that I don't
have to compromise of my filmmaking. Sa Re Ga Ma wanted me for a long
time. We've got some wonderful people on board. They've just completed
a children's film by Ken Ghosh and now they're going on to "The
Japanese Wife".
It's exciting to scout for new filmmaking
talent. I'm most impressed by Birsa Dasgupta. He's truly original,
neither derivative nor imitative. It's not enough to make good films.
One has to lay the grounds down for the future. Some scripts that I
don't feel like directing, I'd pass on to others.
Q: Would you allow Raima and Rahul to dub in Hindi?
A:
Definitely. But in the original version if they can't get the Bengali
accent right, I'll have to dub their voices. Ironically, Rahul, who
speaks wonderful English, has to speak disastrous English in "The
Japanese Wife". I've written some really funny-sounding lines for
Rahul.
Q: But the dubbing by another voice takes away from the performance.
A:
I don't think so. Look at Raima Sen in "Chokher Bali" and Kirron Kher
in "Bariwali". Although their lines were dubbed, their performances
were very good. And I had personally dubbed for Debashree Roy in "36
Chowringhee Lane". In fact, I think dubbing enhances the performances.
Q: When will you make a Hindi film?
A:
May be soon, may be not. It isn't important. You know what really
irritates me? Whenever we speak of mainstream film we immediately think
of Hindi cinema. But India is a country of many equally important
languages and cinema. I can make a Hindi film anytime. I've three Hindi
scripts.
Even my proposed Bengali film "The Jewellery Box"
(featuring Govinda, Konkona , Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore ) might
have to be made in Hindi because it requires a big budget. I wouldn't
have minded making "The Japanese Wife" in Hindi. But which Hindi
producer would invest in this?
In any case I'd like to think I
have an audience regardless of the language. I don't think about it...
but I do have my place and audience. As for the star system in Mumbai,
I really don't have the time or patience. I don't need stars. But if
they want to work with me, I'll welcome them.
Q: Govinda is dying for you to start "The Jewellery Box".
A:
He'll have to hold his horses. First of all I haven't got the house I
want to shoot in Kolkata. Secondly, Konkona is so busy, she kept asking
me whether she should say no to other projects. At the moment I'm just
glad to be doing "The Japanese Wife". I want to make one beautiful
little film after another.
Q: Have you watched any recent Hindi films?
A: Yes, "Guru". I liked Aishwarya Rai very much and of course Abhishek Bachchan is someone I've always liked.
I
really admire Bharadwaj for bringing literature into popular cinema.
And he's a wonderful music director. I'd love to have him compose music
for one of my films.
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service
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