"When Icche released (in 2011), we couldn't even find our posters in the halls because exhibitors and distributors back then were not the believers of the kind of films we tried to make," says Nandita Roy recounting her struggling phase with her filmmaking consort Shiboprosad Mukherjee at their South Kolkata office days ahead of Durga Puja. Thirteen years after their debut release, the pair of Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee, which has mastered the art of drawing audience to the theatres with films over the years, prays for a repeat of 'Raktabeej' success with Bohurupi, a multi-starrer action chase drama due for October 8 release. The duo in conversation with IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh...

Q (to Shiboprosad): You had earlier said it's challenging to release a film in Durga Puja. Has the situation improved for you following Raktabeej's success?

A. No, not at all. It will always remain a challenge as we face difficulties when it comes to sharing halls. Moreover, two big Hindi films along with an equal number of south Indian movies are releasing around that time, so it's very difficult for us. I think we haven't come across too many of such a difficult Durga Puja release in recent years. So if our film doesn't perform well in the first three days (October 8-11) since its release, our shows may get hampered with the entry of the other language films in the market.

Abir Chatterjee plays a cop in Bohurupi | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

Q (to both): Does the thriller genre make it more difficult as a Durga Puja release?

A. (Nandita): People call Bohurupi a thriller, but I refer to it as an entertaining film which comprises thrill, drama and emotions. It's a package of everything. My aim is to offer an entertaining film to the audience in Durga Puja. I believe the audience will refrain from calling Bohurupi just a thriller after watching it.

(Shiboprosad): We have been calling the film an 'action-chase drama'. This is also a part of drama.

Q (to both): We have noticed the exploration of Bengali ethos and culture in the thriller Raktabeej and got a glimpse of it again in Bohurupi. Was it a well thought-out plan to bank on it irrespective of genre?

A. (Nandita): Definitely. Our signature style should be maintained. Our films manifest family values, emotions, and drama. Bohurupi will showcase how all these elements can also be explored in a thriller genre. I think it was the same in Raktabeej where the bonding of a sibling was incorporated, contrary to the popular approach. After seeing the film, the audience could discern why it was necessary to explore the normal, private emotions even of the country's President.

Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Koushani Mukherjee in Bohurupi | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

(Shiboprosad): A plain thriller or a chase drama is not something that excites us as directors. We search for something beyond that, adding more layers to the script.

Q (to both): What led you to delve into thrillers in two successive Puja releases? Did the audience's recent interest in thrillers play a role?

A. (Shiboprosad): No, no, no. We had conceived these stories long back. We had planned to make Bohurupi about 12 years ago but couldn't make it due to financial constraints at that point of time. We are now comparatively confident in delivering the project. Raktabeej's success has further emboldened us.

Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee during Bohurupi shooting | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

Q. Does Bohurupi carry a remote flavour of Money Heist, where bank robbery was the prime focus?

A. (Shiboprosad): No, no. In Bohurupi, the man does the robbery with makeup. He is changing his identity each time. In one way, he is Bohurupi (a folk art form of performers who transform themselves into multiple characters). Our film is completely based on real life incidents that took place in West Bengal. Nandita-di has just added other cinematic elements and crafted a story out of it.

Q. (to both): How did you arrive at Noni Chora Das Baul, a real-life Bohurupi?

A. (Shiboprosad): We sought a different kind of soundscape. As the film is Bohurupi, we wanted to use poems and songs of a real Bohurupi. We felt Noni would add a different texture to the film once we discovered him, heard his songs and eventually reached out. We never intended to alter Noni's voice but explored his earthy feel.

Shiboprosad Mukherjee in Shimul Polash song from Bohurupi | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

Q. (to Nandita): You wanted to offer Shiboprosad Mukherjee a film as a gift on his 50th year. Was it planned for a long time?

A. Coincidentally I could finish the script on his 50th year (laughs). We made the plan to release it this year. However, we have been pursuing the subject for 12 years! I finished the script of both Bohurupi as well as Amar Boss, which is due for release this year. So I gifted both the films to Shibu (Shiboprosad Mukherjee). 

Q (to Shiboprosad): Do you feel the occasional burden of playing the two hats- acting and directing?

A. Definitely. It is a challenge. I wonder how the greats like Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor could pull it off! It's very difficult. An actor on the set needs someone to pass a review so it becomes challenging for a filmmaker-actor without any second help. Moreover in previous eras, it was more difficult as there was no scope for playback. It was their talent that they could pull it off such works being filmmaker-actor in those days. I am very fortunate to have Nandita-di beside me.

Q. (to Shiboprosad): Do you feel Rituparna Ghosh's impact on your acting and directing since you had worked under him?

A. No, I don't. Yes, I have worked with him as an actor but I don't find a direct connection between our films. Ritu-da couldn't have imagined songs like Shimul Polash or Dakatiya Banshi (in Bohurupi) in his films.

Abir Chatterjee romance Ritabhari Chakraborty in Aj Shara Bela song from Bohurupi | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

Q. (to both): You started working amid the dominance of massy commercial films more than a decade ago. How do you feel looking back to your initial days as a director-duo?

A. (Nandita): It was very difficult when we started off. The number of people who would believe us as filmmakers were inferior. When Icche (the first directorial film of the duo) released, we couldn't even find our posters in the halls because exhibitors and distributors back then were not the believers of the kind of films we try to make. But our popularity grew solely because of the audience, who flocked to the theatres to watch our films despite having no promotions at halls. We got recognised slowly with people watching our films.

We can't call the shots but at least secured a position of power now believing in the type of films we make and the content we are providing to the audience. During that struggling phase, there was not a single moment where we mulled changing our track but kept faith in us and our craft. We believed in our content and knew it would touch the hearts of the audience.

Q. (to both): Even during the film Accident, you two had to sacrifice remuneration for budget issues!

A. (Nandita): I think the struggle was needed. We wouldn't have reached where we are today without those struggles. Life should not be easy but full of struggles because that's the way one learns. One will never be able to progress without learning which only comes with struggles.

Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

Q. (to both): Do you have any planning for OTT? Would you like to explore the medium?

A. (Shiboprosad): We have planned to work on OTT in 2025. Let's see how things pan out for us. If we work on OTT, our approach will be completely different.

Q. (to both): Shastry Virudh Shastry, the Hindi remake of 2017 film Posto, was released last year. Do you have any plans to work in other languages?

A. (Nandita): We do have plans but not certain when it would materialise because we are swamped with work in Bengal. We are struggling to keep up with the pace.

(Shiboprosad): One film per year is ideal. We hardly find any time if two films somehow release in the same year.

Q. (to both): Praktan marked the comeback of popular onscreen couple Prosenjit-Rituparna, Raktabeej saw Victor Banerjee's return while upcoming Amar Boss brings back Rakhee Gulzar in Bengali films. How could you make these possible?

A. (Nandita): This is purely Shibu's charisma (laughs). Only Shibu can convince them.

Victor Banerjee in Rakbtajee | Photo courtesy: Windows Production

(Shiboprosad): I might reach out to them but ultimately they show faith in our filmmaking style. Our responsibility grows manifold when such great actors agree for a comeback with our hands. Be it Prosenjit-Rituparna or Victor Banerjee or Rakhee Gulzar, we had to make sure of contents that would justify their stature. We hope Amar Boss succeeds like Praktan and Raktabeej.