Veteran artists flavour of the season for puja appearances

Kolkata: This festive season is witnessing a major interest in veteran artists for puja inaugurations and appearances. According to event organisers, there is an unprecedented surge in enquiries for appearances of octogenarian artists, including Paran Bandyopadhyay, Sabitri Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukhopadhyay, alongside younger stars. Organisers are willing to pay between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000 if veterans agree to spare half-an-hour of their time to grace an event.At 85, Bandyopadhyay is now a busy actor with at least five projects — ‘Prodhan’, ‘Badami Hyenar Kobole’, ‘Saheb Rajar Bari’, ‘Dadur Kirti’ and ‘Ektu Sore Boshun’ — lined up for release. “I am flooded with calls for Paran-da’s appearances. The success of his films, like ‘Tonic’, has changed the audience’s perception towards him. They are very keen to have him at events,” said event organiser Tochon Ghosh.Bandyopadhyay told TOI that this interest in him is just a matter of timing. “People liked my performance in ‘Bombaiyer Bombete’, ‘Royal Bengal Rahasya’, ‘Cinemawallah’ and ‘Borunbabur Bondhu’. ‘Tonic’, of course, reached out to a huge audience. Instead of a conventional characterisation, I create something new within the given circumstances that is justified and convincing for viewers,” Bandyopadhyay said.According to Ghosh, it is this human connection that is making him a hit among viewers. The small-screen outings of octogenarian actors have largely ensured their popularity among organisers. Chatterjee has acted in serials like ‘Mayurpankhi’, ‘Mohor’, ‘Dhulokona’ and ‘Balijhor’. Mukhopadhyay, who has done serials like ‘Ishti Kutum’, ‘Kusum Dola’ and ‘Nokshi Kantha’, was last seen in ‘Balijhor’. “Both Sabitri-di and Madhabi-di have done serials in recent times. The youth doesn’t associate them only with their earlier films. Their work in serials is popular too. So, we often get calls to get them to agree to inaugurate pujas and other events. I can’t talk about individual fees, but organisers are willing to pay between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000 if veterans give 30 minutes of their time at ribbon-cutting events,” Ghosh said.But finances alone don’t determine these appearances. “I am interested in arts, not money,” Bandyopadhyay said. Money is certainly not the criterion when it comes to Mukhopadhyay’s appearances. “To understand a star’s psyche, one must fathom his or her need to be loved by viewers.It is not the money. Invitations for inaugurations and events make her feel that she is still wanted,” said Mukhopadhyay’s daughter Mimi Bhattacharya.Mukhopadhyay had received many offers for puja inaugurations and appearances this year. “But she was recovering from an illness. Now, she is doing well. On November 20, she has an event that she is happy to attend,” Bhattacharya added.