Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
Baba made Sonar Kella and Joi Baba Felunath with Siddhartha Chatterjee playing the young assistant to Feluda (Soumitra Chatterjee). Siddhartha was not in tune with the Feluda stories, so Baba gave him the script and he ended up doing a brilliant job. I still remember how Baba used to encourage each actor on the sets. If he ever felt that a retake was necessary, he would say, ‘Let’s do it once more to settle for the best’. The young generation could relate to him and in that, lay his success, as we Bengalis love mysteries. In these two films, Topshe was more awestruck with Feluda’s sharpness and thought process.
Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
I made Feluda in Hindi, as I felt a charismatic character shouldn’t be restricted to a particular region. So, I did a Feluda miniseries, Kissa Kathmandu Ka, for television in 1986-87, in which Shashi Kapoor played Feluda, Mohan Agashe was Jatayu and Master Alankar was Topshe. He was a well-known face, so he was easily accepted by viewers. And the best part was that Alankar could easily fathom what I wanted from him as Topshe.
Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
Apu as Topshe was a sheer delight! His chemistry with Sabyasachi Chakrabarty as Feluda was superb, if not the best. I would say it was the golden period of the Feluda-Topshe series. The age of the two actors made the chemistry even better. Both Apu and Benu (Sabyasachi) share a great rapport off the screen, which was visible onscreen too. And what made their camaraderie an instant hit was their technical soundness. Both could remember the mannerisms which helped in continuity. Apu used to constantly give us inputs as to how we could make Topshe more believable and his theatre background helped the character to reach greater heights. Topshe used to get influenced by Feluda and both used to bring that out beautifully through body language. How a mere observer can add dimensions to a character is what Apu did to Topshe. Kudos!
Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
Param is intelligent as an actor and there is a sharpness about him that added a dimension to Topshe in Bombaiyer Bombete, Kailashey Kelenkari and Tintorettor Jishu. Saswata as Topshe used to protect Jatayu but Param as Topshe used to scold Jatayu, which added a flavor to the character. Param’s chemistry with Sabyasachi Chakrabarty as Feluda was easy and more like that of a teacher and student. Param used to bring in little mannerisms to Topshe’s character that made it more real.
Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
Shaheb has a freshness on his face that helped him play Topshe really well. His onscreen equation with Feluda aka Sabyasachi Chakrabarty was also commendable. When he came on the sets to act in Gorosthanay Sabdhaan, he had a blank mind. I had asked him not to watch Feluda films so that he could develop his own style, and he did just that. I liked the way Shaheb used to guide and respect Jatayu, as many complained Param used to scold Jatayu a lot (laughs)! He gave Topshe a new look and attitude. He was a well-behaved Topshe, who looked up to Feluda.
Who is the best Topshe to have accompanied Feluda on screen?
With Badshahi Angti, we have a new Feluda (Abir Chatterjee) and Topshe (Sourav). Topshe’s main task is to underline the main bits of what Feluda is saying and Sourav did it extremely well. Not many know that Sourav was the last one to come on board, as I couldn’t zero in on any actor who would suit the role. Then, when I saw Sourav’s picture, I liked the character in his face. Many told me at that time that he was acting in a negative role in a serial titled Maa, but that didn’t bother me. And I must say Sourav did a brilliant job! Moreover, Abir and Sourav have known each other for a long time and this helped them bond as Feluda-Topshe on screen. Abir has an assertive screen presence as Feluda, while Sourav as Topshe has sharp vision. I told both of them not to watch Feluda films before the shoot and read the book, Badshahi Angti, and they did so. As there is no Jatayu in this film, so the whole responsibility falls on Feluda and Topshe. Abir and Saurav carried it off really well. In this film, Topshe is not a mere observer, but a part of the adventure. So, he is not awestruck, but concerned about Feluda. Both actors have done so many actions on spot that I am amazed! Long live this new Feluda-Topshe jodi!
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