KOLKATA:’Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale‘, a film by Pratim D. Gupta and produced by Firdausul Hasan, is the first Indian film featuring popular Bangladeshi star Ziaul Faruq Apurba to release in India following the crisis in the neighboring country after the ISKCON controversy. While most assignments in music direction, editing, and post-production have come to a complete halt, this is the only film with a Bangladesh connection that is proceeding with a release during these sensitive times.
Bangladeshi actor Arifin Subho has been shooting in Kolkata for a web series called ‘Jazz City’ since mid-Nov. “He will be here to shoot until Jan. We have not faced any problems because of the strained bilateral ties,” said a member of the production team of Soumik Sen’s web series.
Gupta conveyed to TOI that he has not held back in using Apurba in the film’s promotions. “He has limited screen time in the film compared to Tota Roy Choudhury, Shantanu Maheshwari, and Anirban Chakrabarti, and that’s how his character was designed from the outset. So, his presence in the digital promotions has also been limited. By casting Shantanu and Apurba, I wanted to utilize the repertoire of Bengali-speaking acting talent beyond Bengal and wanted the film to reach out to more people. I still hope it does,” Gupta said.
Hasan said that he ventured into production to make “good and meaningful cinema” for the “global Bengali community”. “I faced hurdles all along, but my mission remained unchanged. Shooting for this film began in 2023 when the political climate was different. Things might have changed, but the resolve to make good content has not. That is why I went ahead with the release of ‘Padatik’ with Chanchal Chowdhury in the lead in August. The film garnered critical acclaim across the globe. I am only concerned about continuing to make good cinema without any compromise. That is why I am releasing my next Indian film with Apurba,” Hasan said. On being asked if the actor will attend the Kolkata premiere, Hasan said, “He has an Indian visa, but I am yet to decide on his visit.”
Apurba told TOI that he is looking forward to the film’s release on Dec 20. “I have some travel plans outside Bangladesh now and am not sure if I can make it to Kolkata. This is my first film in Kolkata, and I am really excited about it. I am happy that it is releasing in India now,” he said.
Kolkata-based music director Amit Chatterjee has been working on Bangladesh projects since 2013-2014. “We never harbored any hostility before. Previously, I received approximately five to six assignments monthly from Bangladesh. Financially, I remain stable since I do substantial work in Kolkata. In the recent past, emotional ties seem to be affected. Whilst my country is precious to me, similarly it is for them. None of us will undertake any work that compromises the dignity of our respective nations. Yet, I believe 20% of people are fostering hostility. The rest have never been hostile to us and will not be,” he added.
