Farewell my Chitrangada

Being with Rituparno Ghosh is always special. More so when he’s at the fag end of a shoot, ready to complete his love of labour.
On Friday, CT caught him in a cheerful mood — excited, happy, expectant — as he wrapped up “Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish”, a film that has kept him occupied both as director and actor in the early months of 2011. Here’s what we saw, heard and enjoyed on the last day of the shoot…
How am I looking today?
The location is a two-storey house in Deshapriya Park.By 2.30 pm, when CT reaches the spot, the place is buzzing with activity. DoP Avik Mukhopadhyay is busy placing the camera and the lights on the terrace. The lion’s share of his work done, Rituparno looks relaxed — chit-chatting with his team. There’s a table fan whirring away, but the Diva director frowns, “Ami eto gorome shooting korte parbo na.” Then again, he turns to Sanjoy Nag, the co-director: “I’ve got the mic in hand. Don’t I look like a public speaker?” To Avik, he says, “You didn’t tell me how I am looking today, bolli na toh?” There’s mock anger in the voice, but Avik just replies in his usual deadpan retort, “Dekhchhi toh!” There are ripples of laughter all around.
But it’s not all fun and games for the “Chitrangada” team. The three of them — Avik, Sanjoy and Rituparno — are finally shooting the chroma plates for the background of the film which has been held up for so long due to erratic downpour. And even for that, every minute detail has to be accurate for the “Chitrangada” team. How does it feel on the last day of the shoot? “Everytime, the end of the shoot is like the last day of Durga Puja. It feels like a joint family has broken up,” he sighs.
Wish I looked like Rekha
Soon it’s time for a break. Rituparno asks for a glass of nimbu pani with a pinch of salt and sugar. Later, when he is served soft drink in a glass, he says with a laugh, “I’ve painted my lips and everyone says I am looking like Rekha, so I refuse to have a soft drink without a straw.”
It seems like an in-house joke in the unit, so nobody bothers to react, leaving a sulking Rituparno sipping from the straw and intensely looking at the monitor. There’s a shot of a marriage house across the road. Rituparno wants a clean shot, but to his disappointment, people keep walking out on the verandah every time he tries to shoot. Finally, an exasperated Rituparno shouts from the mic, “Next time I see anyone coming into the frame, ami giye dhakka mere phele debo. His death will be recorded on camera. People crowding at the gates will also die!” Finally, order prevails. “Camera rolling,” the director calls out.
Who’s getting the bamboo?
He might be a perfectionist when it comes to shooting, but there’s no end to the banter Rituparno shares with his technical support team. His eye falls on a pile of bamboo poles lying in one corner of the terrace. He turns to Sanjoy immediately, “Bunty (Sanjoy), baansher gaye naam lekha nei keno? Konta Aviker, konta tor, konta amar?” When the CT photographer wants to shoot him, Rituparno pulls his leg, “Ami kone dekha aloy chhara shot diyina.”
Suddenly they decide to play a prank on Jisshu, his co-actor in the film. “Call him up and ask him why he’s not come for the shoot,” he tells Sanjoy. This, despite the fact that he is not at all needed for the day’s shoot and everybody including Jisshu knows that. Sanjoy dials his number and a startled Jisshu takes the call, saying that he’s running a temperature. Trying to make Jisshu feel guilty and awkward, Rituparno takes Sanjoy’s phone and says, “You’ve got fever? But here they are saying that they need you and me for a shot. Thik achhe, you take rest. Let me see how I can manage.” Quite a shock for the actor recuperating at home!
By then, it’s 6.20 pm and time to pack up. But the director's not done yet. Once the last shot is taken, he turns emcee. “I want to thank everyone in the para for their willingness to help. Sharodiya shubhechchha shokolke. Nomoshkar,” he says on the mic. A very special day with Rituparno has come to an end.