Director Kalpana Lajmi, Bupen Hazarika’s companion for over 40 years, is ready to make a film on the departed legendand the big scoop is that Prosenjit Chatterjee will star as Hazarika. Prosenjit is happy that Lajmi has considered him for the coveted role. “It is a huge honour. Whatever time I am getting, I am reading up on the master,” he said. The film will be shot in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and New York.
The film, a trilingual project, has been tentatively titled The Tempest in English, Kal Boishakhi in Bengali and Dhumuha in Assamese. “Yes, Prosenjit is playing Bhupen Hazarika. Who better than him to bring alive Bhupenda’s dynamic character on screen? In fact, it was a mutual decision he and I took after he heard I was making this biopic. Bhupenda was a very romantic man and only Prosenjit can bring that alive. He also had a fiery aspect and I’m sure Prosenjit will portray that ably as well. As of now, I don’t know who will play my character, but preferably someone from western India,” said Lajmi,in a recent interview with Times of India.
The Assamese maestro, remembered for numerous timeless songs, passed away in November 5, 2011.
Lajmi said the film will be a biopic seen through the prism of her relationship with Hazarika. “For the whole of 2013, I was collaborating with Sunanda Shymal Mitra as we jotted down my memories. The final script will be readied now,” said Lajmi.
With Santosh Sivan as the DoP, the film is slated to go on the floors in the second half of the year. “Music will play an important role in the biopic. We will remaster Bhupenda’s songs and use them. For the background score I want to rope in Debajyoti Mishra, though I haven’t yet spoken to him. He is brilliant,” said Lajmi.
