B&W film from Rituparno Ghosh

By Staff

Friday, May 12, 2006

New Delhi (UNI): In this age of filmmakers using latest colour techniques in their cinematic ventures, making a film entirely in black and white would seem like a regressive step. However, for renowned Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, who attempts to bring back the era of black and white cinema through his latest Bengali venture Dosor, making a film in monochrome, unlike the "multi-hued' films of today, was just another expression of his creativity.

''I have always desired to make a film in black and white. It, in fact, allows you to express your creative demeanour in a more realistic way. This has been well reflected in epochal movies like Pather Panchali, Aranyer Dinratri, Charulata etc,'' Rituparno told reporters her at a press meet to promote Dosor, which stars National award winning actress Konkona Sen Sharma along with actor Prosenjit. ''Also, since Dosor deals with a 'multi-hued' relationship existing between a married couple, played by Konkona and Prosenjit, using a black and white canvas was an ideal one for bringing out the various facets of the relationship,''Ghosh, who has earlier made critically-acclaimed films like Chokher Bali, Antarmahal and Raincoat, said. The film, which released in Kolkata five weeks ago and is scheduled to release in Delhi on May 19, is being produced by Professor Arindham Chaudhry's Planman Life Group. It is just another unconventional venture by the Planman Life, which has earlier produced Anjan Das' Faltu.

Asked whether, in this age of "multiplex movies", making a film entirely in black and white was not a bad business proposition, Professor Chaudhry said,'' Everyone has been taken aback by our decision of producing a black and white film. However, we are overtly excited by the marketing and business prospects of the film. Firstly, the creative aspect is being handled by Ritu-da whose name itself is enough to draw the crowds to the theatres, specially in Bengal, and secondly the fact that it is the only movie in the current era made entirely in black and white.'' In this context, Prof Chaudhry said that the film had already created a huge stir.

''We released the film in Kolkata four to five weeks ago. Right from the day one of its release, the film has been drawing huge crowds, most of the people coming to the theatres due to tremendous curiosity of watching a black and white film in the current era. Also, distributors in Mumbai have evinced a huge interest in releasing the film in the theatres there that too in the Bengali version which shows the tremendous buzz around it,' he said.

The director Rituparno Ghosh dismissed the notion that making a film in black and white was a regressive step. ''Black and white remains stylish even today. Moreover, it makes for greater audience participation as the cinegoers, having been used to colour film, would tend to put their own version of colours in a black and white venture,'' he said. Prof Chaudhry said the black and white look notwithstanding, 'Dosor' was a very contemporary film. ''Infact, renowned film writer and poet Javed Akhtar, who recently watched the film, described it as a brilliant piece of cinema with a good screenplay,''he said. ''Poor screenplays and storytelling has been the main cause of the crisis plaguing Hindi films. No matter what formulas you apply in making a film, ultimately it is the story which brings audiences after a point of time. So, in 'Dosor', we have paid attention to giving a good story to the audience,'' Rituparno said.

Prof Chaudhry said he was hopeful that the film, which was also being released in several foreign countries, would create a huge impact in the international film market. ''There is no knowing the impact that the movie can create in the international film market. The only move in the current era to be made in black and white,' he said. Then, he said, there were earnings from the DVD release, all of which meant that the film, made on a limited budget, would easily recover its investment.

Dosor delves into the married life of Kaushik and Kaveri, played by Prosenjit and Konkona Sen. Their relationship gets stretched to the brim of separation with one suddene event when, on his way back from a resort with his girlfriend Mita, Kaushik meets with an unfortunate accident. The marital infidelity changes the entire world for Kaveri as she stumbles upon a bare truth, that breakes the aura of marriage.

Speaking on the occasion, the male lead of the film, Prosenjit said,'' The film is really unique. Even if it does not revolutionise Bengali cinema, the success of the film would surely spark interest in the film fraternity. I can only hope more people getting into the domain of black and white cinemas with an objective of creating a lasting impression in the mind of cinegoers.''

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