Kaushik Ganguly, Riddhi and Ritwick explain why ‘Nagarkirtan’ is a must-watch

This is not the first time Kaushik Ganguly is working on issues of sexuality and gender in his cinematic works. In a 2003 telefilm Ushnatar Janye he showed us what lesbianism is, and soon after the historic 2009 judgment by the Delhi High Court decriminalizing homosexuality, he joined hands with late Rituparno Ghosh to make Arekti Premer Golpo (2010), appreciated as much for its bold theme as for attempting to tread on terrain only a few mainstream films have done. And now with ‘Nagarkirtan’, he sets the bar even higher, given the context of the afterlife of section 377. The film is finally seeing the daylight. The film that earned Best Actor for Riddhi Sen at the 2017 National Awards, had been struggling hard to find a theatrical release. But now with the release date set for February 15, people may ask why anyone should watch ‘Nagarkirtan’. We asked the same question to the trio – the captain of the ship Kaushik Ganguly and his two sellers Riddhi Sen and Ritwick Chakraborty. Here’s what they have to say.

For Riddhi, this film, especially Puti’s character will give him the courage even after decades. The young actor also says he played the role of a transgender Parimal aka Puti as a complete woman instead of an unfinished woman. “Cinema can change at least 1% of the society. I hope ‘Nagarkirtan’ can plunge into the darkness and help those people who are not accepted by society and by themselves. The transformation process from a man to a transgender individual is not an easy thing to go through. The hardest thing was to showcase the physicality of a woman and maintain a fine line. I am grateful to Kaushik kaku (the director) for giving me this role. It has been a life-changing experience for me. I believe ‘Nagarkirtan’ will engage the audience and make them think from a new angle. Kaushik Kaku said a very interesting point, this film is like an anesthesia, people won’t realize when the operation has been done,” quips the highly talented actor.

It’s actually our responsibility to make people aware, you should watch this film. After 377, we are seeing the rainbow in Indian cinema here in the East. We should celebrate and be proud of this film. It’s not that I have made the film so I am asking you. Truly speaking, we don’t have any commercial aspect to think about. I want people to see ‘Nagarkirtan’ just like they welcomed ‘Arekti Premer Galpo’ or the telefilm Ushnotar Jonno. We made the film almost one and a half years ago. Since then it has won 4 National Awards. I know Nagarkirtan has raised a lot of curiosity. It has received love all around the world in many film festivals. We all are now waiting to see the response from Kolkata audience. I strongly believe Kolkata will appreciate our hard work. It would be completely wrong if we judge this film on box office success. Plus, February 14 is Valentine’s Day and ‘Nagarkirtan’ is releasing just the next day. So, when the entire world celebrates love, we would celebrate love in a ‘Nagarkirtan’ way. To bring in a change people have to embrace cinema, theatre, literature and the change will come itself slowly.

Cinema can’t change people’s mentality completely but yes it has certain impacts and this film has the necessary element to at least make people think differently. I think after the love story of Puti and Modhu people will be much more sensible, they will be able to relate to it. We have seen the transgenders knock the car windows in traffic signals and we try to push them away, see these people like a weed of the society. But from now on there will be a change. See, these verdicts can never change a people, there has to be an awareness. Like here in ‘Nagarkirtan’, the audience won’t be able to realize when will start feeling for Puti, despite she is a transgender. Love has no gender, no language, no religion. Love itself is a medium to enlighten our soul. So, I will request everyone to watch ‘Nagarkirtan’ and only then we can say our hard work has paid off.