New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- Prosenjit Chatterjee is optimistic about the future of Bengali cinema. The Padma Shri actor believes the next two to three years could be a 'golden time' for the industry, with audiences changing and mainstream cinema gradually evolving with them.
The veteran actor recently watched the Jeet-starrer 'Kew Bole Biplobi Kew Bole Dakat' and appreciated the way the film brings together content and commerce. For Prosenjit, that balance is essential to the revival of mainstream Bengali cinema.
"The audience is changing, and mainstream cinema has to change with it. I have always looked at Mani Ratnam's films as a benchmark for mainstream cinema because he manages to bring together commerce, entertainment and intellect. That kind of cinema needs to come back and I am very hopeful that it will," said the 'Autograph' actor.
Prosenjit is also hoping for a strong Puja season for Bengali films. With four Bengali releases - 'Desu7', 'Emperor Vs Sarat Chandra', 'Bohurupi: The Golden Daku' and 'The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra' - lined up this Durga Puja, he wants the industry to collectively clock at least Rs 40 crore at the box office.
"Last year was not a particularly good year for Bengali films during Puja. This year, I genuinely hope that all four films do well and the business should collectively cross Rs 40 crore. The filmmakers and producers need to stand together. There should be no unnecessary fighting among us. Ultimately, we are all part of the same industry," he said.
His appeal comes at a time when simultaneous releases during the Puja season have often turned into a virtual battle in Bengal. From trolling and online mudslinging to disagreements over screen allocation, the infighting between filmmakers and producers can sometimes overshadow the films themselves, hardly the message an industry would want to send to its audience during its biggest festive window.
Meanwhile, Prosenjit's 'Daktar Kaku' has been released in theatres. Directed by Pavel, the film sees the actor play an honest doctor who refuses to compromise on his ethics or commitment to his profession. His son, played by Riddhi Sen, represents a contrasting worldview. Ambitious and sceptical of his father's old-school values, he is more attracted to the opportunities offered by the private healthcare sector. The film also delves into corruption in the healthcare system and scams surrounding competitive examinations, with the latter offering an obvious contemporary resonance with the NEET controversy. What makes the subject particularly interesting is that the film was shot in 2022, a few months after COVID-19.
The subject also has a personal connection for Prosenjit. Though he belongs to one of Bengal's best-known acting families, with legendary actor Biswajit Chatterjee as his father, medicine runs deep in his family as well. His grandfather, Dr Ranjit Kumar Chattopadhyay, was a renowned physician, while his maternal side also has several reputed doctors. Had acting not worked out for him, Prosenjit could well have found himself in the healthcare profession.
Speaking about the growing commercialisation of healthcare, the actor acknowledges that facilities such as mediclaim have an important role to play but believes the fundamental ethos of medicine should remain service.
"Earlier, a family doctor was almost considered a member of the family. I have also seen young doctors go to villages and treat people for free because they believe in serving society. Of course, facilities like 'Mediclaim' are important and have made healthcare more accessible in many ways. But somewhere along the way, we must not forget that medicine is fundamentally a profession of service," said Prosenjit, who has recently been inducted as one of the 18 members of the Censor Board.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.