Celebration time for Bengali cinema

Talking about the project, actor-scriptwriter-production designer, Rituparno Ghosh says, ���������This is a kind of out-of-the-way theme that I felt gradually attracted to as the story. The screenplay started evolving simultaneously and then, eventually led to a simple intense narrative. Death has been an abiding concern, even in my own films. ���������Memories in March��������� deals with death as well but goes far beyond. To the basic human truth that ���������in the midst of life there is death��������� and equally truly ���������in the midst of death there is life���������.������������������MIM��������� is about emotional archiving.���������A bereaved mother, dumbstruck by the news of an accidental death of her28-year-old son, comes to Kolkata to carry out the last rites and carry hisbelongings back to Delhi. Her three-day stay in Kolkata in her dead son���������soffice-apartment and her constant interaction with his office colleagues, makeher realise that the ownership of her son���������s belongings, which she claimedto be exclusively personal, is ubiquitous, distributed among all his friends andacquaintances. So much so that it can���������t be packed and moved away. She alsorealises her presence in the midst of these unfamiliar people,��������� says thedirector, adding, ���������The son���������s reference is there all through thefilm. But there is no physical presence of an actor. So, it was all the moredifficult to establish his presence.��������� Naturally, Sanjoy is ���������elatedwith the news���������. He adds, ���������I never thought of it when I made mydirectorial debut. All I can say is, if the film can make it, there���������s anaward of $30,000. It is not important whether or not we make it finally.What���������s noteworthy is the fact that the film has found its way to thefestival.��������� Having worked with a veteran like Rituparno, onewonders what it was like to direct him. ���������Rituda has penned a foolproofscript. With such a strong script to fall back on, half of my work was done. Heessays the boss��������� role in an ad agency,��������� continues Sanjoy.Ask him if ever Rituparno ghost directed ���������MIM��������� andpromptly comes his response, ���������No way! In fact, he was never there on thesets when he wasn���������t required.���������Raima Sen is also part ofthe cast. And the actor is visibly excited that the film is going places,���������Wow, I am on cloud nine. It���������s been chosen at such a prestigiousfilm festival. And what���������s more, the film is also having its world premierethere,��������� she says.Rituparno, on his part, adds, ���������I amimpressed by the production company, that believed in the subject and trusted adebutant director with such an intricate and intense film. And Sanjoy, I mustadmit, has really come up trumps. The result is evident; ���������MIM��������� is inPusan IFF 2010 in the New Current, a competitive section for Asian film-makers.Incidentally, Shrikant (Mohta) and I co-produce the film.��������� Theproduction also vouches for the fact that it too got verbal confrmation afortnight back. The letter reached it just two days ago. Here���������s wishingthey come back with happy ���������memories���������.Follow us on Twitter for more stories