Gargee to play Mahasweta Devi on screen

By the director’s own admission, this is not a biopic. However, Arindam Sil’s next, Mahananda, will resonate the life and work of

Mahasweta Devi

. The film will feature Gargee RoyChowdhury in the lead as the protagonist, Mahananda. It will also feature Ishaa Saha and Gaurav Chakrabarty in other pivotal characters. Bickram Ghosh will compose the music for the film. The script is jointly developed by Subhendu Dasmunshi and Arindam.

“I see Mahasweta Devi as a movement. Her ideas and politics transcend to the next generation. My protagonist, an author, is built under the influence of Mahasweta Devi’s character. We talk about a lot of woman empowerment these days. Mahasweta Devi worked on this ages ago, and that too with tribal women. She lived an uncompromised life, even in her personal relationships,” said the director.

Ishaa will play a character, Mahalaya, who carries forward the legacy of Mahananda. Gaurav will play a character of an activist. “Ami detective chhobi banai bole amar bodnam (I am criticised for making detective flicks). But each of my film brings in some social messages. This is no exception. In a time when people do not tend to make political films, this will be one of that kind,” Arindam signed off.