Docu on Aparna Sen in the works, to feature Shabana Azmi and Konkona Sen Sharma

After the 2019 comedy-drama Aadhaar, director Suman Ghosh is busy shooting a documentary on Aparna Sen, which is yet to get a title. “I got acquainted with Rina di (Sen) while I was working with Konkona (Sen Sharma) in Kadambari. Subsequently, she acted in my film Basu Paribaar. We’ve been friends ever since and I have had several addas with her. Her luminosity is so attractive.Rina di embraces life to its fullest. There is a renaissance quality to her that I wanted to capture in my film. After venturing into the prospect of making a film on her I finally found a story to tell. That is what I intend to explore in my documentary,” Suman revealed.


Aparna, who has won nine National Awards to date, directed her third Hindi film, The Rapist, last year. The hard-hitting social drama, starring Konkona and Arjun Rampal, won the Kim Jiseok Award at the 26th Busan International Film Fesival 2021. “She is such a wonderful amalgamation of eastern and western thoughts, ideas, and influences. In my documentary I wanted to capture Rina di — the person and the actor-director Aparna Sen. It explores both her personal and professional lives so that people get to know her as a person," Suman shared.

Shabana Azmi, who’s a friend of Aparna and has starred in her 2017 film Sonata, is also set to be part of this documentary. “Shabana ji is such a warm and generous soul and she is a great friend to Rina di. I wanted to capture their friendship over the years and their relationship as artistes. I also shot with Konkona in Mumbai. She is a dear friend and our connection expanded through our love for books. She has shared significant unknown insights on her mother,” said Suman.

Cinematographer Soumik Haldar, who has worked with Aparna in films such as Ghawre Bairey Aaj and Goynar Baksho, will helm the camera for the documentary. “I am getting a lot of help from our industry folks. Soumik (who has shot for me and Rina di) is shooting the portions where Rina di is revisiting the sites where she filmed iconic films like 36 Chowringhee Lane, Paroma and Paromitar Ekdin,” said Suman, whose 2017 documentary on Amartya Sen, titled The Argumentative Indian, garnered critical acclaim worldwide.
How difficult was it to direct a director like Aparna Sen? “It wasn’t difficult at all. I have directed her before in Basu Paribaar. Rina di is always in high spirits when she is on the shooting floor and that makes the whole process of filming her very easy,” Suman smiled.