‘
Surjo Prithibir Chardike Ghore
’ (The Sun Goes Around the Earth), produced by Ava Film Productions Pvt. Ltd, revolves around
TC Paul
who for the last 40 years has relentlessly written these words on the walls of Kolkata wherever he could. Once employed with the army TC Paul thought he had discovered a proof that will lay to rest the debate that no longer existed. Leaving the army, spending all his saving, deserted by his family, living in a makeshift tent on the roads of Calcutta, often chased and manhandled by people he remains unfazed in his ‘struggle’.
In the same 40 years, the longest standing communist party government has risen and fallen in the state of Bengal, of which Kolkata is the capital. An erstwhile left theatre activist Chirantan Chatterjee, now an arm-chair revolutionary and a reigning star of Bengali cinema, meets Pal at a chance encounter and is intrigued. He calls Sanjib, a fellow political traveler once upon a time, and asks him to research Pal. What makes this guy carry on…asks Chirantan...when we dropped the ball and ran.
It is this dichotomy, this juxtaposition of thoughts that make for this socio-political piece a savoury adventure into film making.
Giving a brief idea about his film, director Arijit Biswas said: “Everybody likes a story of an underdog. Our mythical heroes always fight against insurmountable odds and win. And what can be more amazing than the story of a street scientist challenging the very science that runs the world. Win or lose is immaterial, this is a fight that needs to be seen to believe.”
“Few years back Paromita sent me a story where this character of KC Pal played an important part. The character immediately sparked y interest and I asked her if I can redesign the story. The script that I wrote got selected in NFDC Screenwriting Lab in 2015 and I started seriously thinking about making this into a movie. Thankfully I got lots of help from my friends and of course from Pawanji..and AVA finally produced this film,” added Arijit.
However, making the movie was not a bed of roses. It had its challenges. Arijit adds: “Apart from managing the funds...which thankfully got resolved once AVA and Pawanji stepped in....I think we have been extraordinarily lucky in getting the right cast. This was presumably the most difficult part which got solved by almost all the right people saying yes to the film. Deepakda was the first to read the script and agree..He had some excellent suggestions on Chirantan's character....next was Anjan da and yet we were at sea about KCPal's character. Then Sumon (Lal) suggested we talk to Meghnad da and it was sort of a casting coup. It's almost miraculous what Meghnad da has done to the character of Pal....you will end up wishing that Sun should go around the Earth.”
“It was of course finally being able to finish the film and get it ready for people to see. Thankfully most people who have watched have liked the film...including Sriram. Raghavan....though it is not all his cup of tea !!!!! Also we were all very pleasantly surprised when we got best director at
KIFF
last year. We intend to follow the festival circuit with more focus next year...as I think other countries too can relate to this story. Now let us see what audience in Kolkata tells to a very own story of the city,” he surely has high hopes about this film which is also his biggest satisfaction.
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