Two in a row

Tota Roy Chowdhury is Shyamal, while Abir Chatterjee is Hari in Arindam Sil���������s ���������Aborto���������
Arindam sil, last heard, was yet to finalize a cast for Shyamal and Hari in his directorial debut, ���������Aborto���������, the English title for which will be ���������The Vortex���������.
But now he has locked two actors for the parts. While Tota Roy Chowdhury has been roped in to play Shyamal, Abir Chatterjee has agreed to be Hari.
For those who came in late, the actor-executive producer has penned a story, where each character flaunts the characterestics of one or the other immortal Ray characters. And this is where, according to him, the
���������similarity ends.���������
Seemabaddha������������������s Shyamal, a thorough careerist, is a senior executive at a multi national company. With little time for family, Shyamal���������s wife is Charu of ���������Charulata���������. Eventually, Shyamal is attracted to Duli of ���������Aranyer Din Ratri���������, a smouldering hot, dusky, executive assistant. Shyamal���������s company is trying to rope in the most popular IPL cricketer, Hari (���������Aranyer Din Ratri���������) as brand ambassador. Hari and Charu find a connect. Shyamal���������s competitor is the scrupulous Runu Sanyal also from ���������Seemabaddha���������.
Says Arindam about Tota, ���������I wanted someone who would be 40+ and yet be very agile. Shyamal is a careerist, ambitious to the core, he loves being in control of things, a no-nonsense guy. Tota comes across as one who is disciplined and one who can pursue his goal. In fact, when I narrated the part to him at my place, he was bowled over and immediately agreed to the role.���������
Lookwise, the director wants to give him a haircut that will match up to his executive status. ���������I want him to flaunt designer glasses, his wardrobe will vary between blue and steel with a element of red, just to hint at the fire in his character. His house will be in black and white. I want that element of coldness to reflect in Shyamal���������s character. Indranil Ghosh will be in charge of the production design,��������� adds Arindam.
Tota, however, says that he fell in love with the concept, the very fact of intelligently weaving Ray���������s immortal characters in one plot. ���������And I have full faith in the competence of the director. I have seen his first telefilm and I know that he is an intelligent man. I don���������t want to play around with Ray characters and, hence, I will meet up with Barun Chanda, who played the original Shyamal, just so I know what transpired between him and Ray when he essayed the part. I want to know the original motivation and then decide if it can be imbibed in today���������s Shyamal,��������� says Tota.
Interestingly, Arindam has convinced Barun to do a cameo in the film and even have a portion where the two Shyamal���������s meet and interact. Biplab Chatterjee will play Shyamal���������s father.
As for Hari, the IPL cricketer, the film-maker thought it best to settle for Abir. ���������Standing tall and lanky at six feet, all Abir needs to do is tone up his muscles. I have always maintained that Abir has a cinematic element to him, a screen presence. In fact, I had recommended him to Anjan da (Dutt) for BBD, where he did a cameo. At that time, Anjan da promised him of a better deal in future and that���������s how Byomkesh happened,��������� says Arindam and adds, ���������Abir, till date, has not been offered a role as Hari���������s. Ranadeb Bose was my inspiration for the character and I would suggest Abir to party with him for a few days so that he gets the hang of things. As far as Hari���������s looks are concerned, I will give him a new haircut to start with, well-fit, branded jeans, round neck tees and maybe, a white linen jacket when he parties. He needs to change his shades just like the women in his life. And he is a lover of cars. Hari is flamboyant and that needs to come across on-screen.���������
Abir says that he found the concept unique. ���������Since I have played cricket earlier, it would be interesting to do the same on-screen. I am looking forward to working with Arindamda with whom I shared screen in 2005,��������� adds the actor.
Before signing off the film-maker says that June will be playing Runu Sanyal���������s (Saswata Chatterjee) on-screen wife, while Charu will be some foreign Bengali actor. As for the director, he will be playing an IB officer in ���������Aborto��������� that will have Soumik Halder as the DOP.