Filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee pays a heartfelt homage to Rituparno Ghosh

On Rituparno Ghosh's birth anniversary today, filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee pays homage to the icon with this heartfelt tribute. Read on...
"I was in school when Rituparno Ghosh's ‘Unishe April’ released. I clearly remember that my parents took us to Chabighar (single screen) in North Kolkata to see the film, that fetched him and lead actress Debasree Roy a national award. This film remains one of the most important aspects in the history of Bengali cinema because he managed to bring middle class, educated and liberal audiences back to theatres.I remember how ma told baba, "Onek din baade ekta bhalo cinema dekhlam!" (Watched a good film after a long time)

I guess, everyone shared the same opinion. Rituparno was yet not known to Bengalees, they were lost amidst Bangladeshi remakes like 'Beder Meye Jotsna' and 'Baba Keno Chakor'. After Satyajit Ray they were in search of a filmmaker who could connect the bridge between mass and class. Unishe April was the first brick.
I have met Rituda on several occasions, years later when I pursued my career as a film journalist. I met him first on the sets of 'Shubho Muhurat', an adaptation of Agatha Christie's Mirror Cracking Side to Side. Then we interacted and spend time on several occasions. Rituparno slowly became a "habit" for Bengalis. His films were celebrated, like an occasion. People would actually shop and buy new clothes to watch his new films.
From being criticised by his own colleagues for his effeminate nature, to becoming an icon with his signature chat show, the maverick maker didn't leave any stone unturned. "Jibon to ektai, tai na?" (We only have one life) - he would smile and simplify every complex situation in life.

Of course, Bollywood knows Rituparno Ghosh for his Hindi film 'Raincoat' (Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan) Barring cine connoisseurs, none knew about his body of work. I always wanted to tell the mainstream audience that what a genius Rituda was. That's when I decided to pay homage to Rituparno Ghosh in my second film 'Season's Greetings'. Till date, my lead actor Celina Jaitly says, "Ram, trust me Rituda definitely blessed our film, it's loved by the universe." And she is so correct.
When I made 'Season's Greetings', people were curious to know why was it a tribute to Rituparno Ghosh? Some of my non-Bengali friends revisited his films on OTT platforms, some googled him and some read his biography. Rituparno was not only a director for his actors and technicians, he was a family member. His peaceful death had shaken the industry. He was planning to make Draupadi and many other films. He broke the myth that commercial actors cannot be a part of art cinema. From Rituparna Sengupta to Bipasha Basu, from Prosenjit Chatterjee to Abhishek Bachchan, he worked with all and gave them their career, best roles. He proved that film is the director's medium. He owned his success and failures.
Lately, Rituda became extremely moody. He would also be rude at times. But then he would be also the first one to apologise for his mood swings. "Uff! Aar raagish na baba!" - (Don't get upset) would be his standard apology.
In 2003 I had shifted my base to Mumbai when he was making Chokher Bali with Aishwarya Rai and Raima Sen. He had invited me at the premiere of 'Chokher Bali' in Mumbai. He was upset with one of my articles. "I am angry with you, but we will fight after the film is over. Go watch it now!" That was his way of venting out anger. After many years I met him while he was working on 'Khela' with Manisha Koirala and Prosenjit Chatterjee. They were also planning to remake 'Guide' (Rahagir) with Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan. But somehow that project never took off. I had interviewed him when I was working as a film journalist in Mumbai. We needed a candid photograph, that's when we walked down the lanes of Nariman Point and reached Marine Drive. "Tui phuchka khas ekhane?" (Do you eat paani puri?) he asked like a kid while crossing the street food stalls. I replied, "Na, ekhane pawa jayena!" He smiled and replied, "Oh tao bhalo, atleast phuchka khete Kolkata ashbi!"
He was right, I miss phuchka and Rituda both when I visit Kolkata. I have never tasted phuchka since his demise. I didn't want to spoil the after taste of his words and magical movies, with the tangy taste of phuchka!"