Rituparna, Ranjan Ghosh talk about Ahaa Re ranking among great Asian films

Asian Movie Pulse has recently released a list of 25 great Asian films about food. Rituparna Sengupta and Arifin Shuvoo starrer Ahaa Re, a film that came out in 2019, made it to the list curated by notable critics.

Directed by noted film-maker Ranjan Ghosh, Ahaa Re is a love story between a rich Bangladeshi Muslim chef (Arifin Shuvoo) and a middle class Indian woman (Rituparna Sengupta), a story which transcends borders and overcomes the barriers of age, class and religion. The main characters’ love for food is what brings them together.

In response to his film making the list, Ranjan Ghosh said to Dhaka Tribune Showtime: ‘ It is a humbling feeling to be there alongside Ang Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman, and Juzo Itami's Tampopo. These are films we had studied at the film school.”

He added: “ I am eternally grateful to Rituparna Sengupta for standing by the film, and for introducing Arifin Shuvoo to me. Ahaa Re is a love story between our two lands, two cultures, two religions. An absurd line on the map cannot stop us from becoming one.” 

Rituparna told Dhaka Tribune Showtime: “It is a real matter of pride for us since people from Bangladesh and Kolkata take great delight in our common love for food. Keeping in mind the crisis that we find ourselves currently embroiled in, I would urge everyone not to waste food and, if possible,  give the leftovers to the hungry and poor. I made it a point in my house not to waste a single grain as well.

“I would like to express my gratitude to director Ranjan Ghosh and our entire team. I am also thankful to our Bangladeshi audience who showered their love on this film. It was an honor to work with Arifin Shuvoo and Bangladeshi veteran actor Alamgir.”

The website officials said: "Regarding the Food list, the considerations were to be Asian, about food and  good movies. The writers of the website submitted their suggestions and based on those, we compiled the list."

The late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan’s The Lunchbox is the only other South Asian film to make the list.