Sabyasachi Chakraborty is vastly revered as Feluda by the audiences of both Bengals. The renowned Indian actor participated in the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival. His film “JK 1971” was premiered as the opening film at the festival. At the festival, he announced his retirement from acting too. With new films, career plans and life philosophy, the veteran actor appeared before journalist/lyricist Mahmood Manzoor.
Mahmood Manzoor: You have participated in the opening ceremony of Dhaka International Film Festival. The opening film of the fest was also yours. How did you like the festival?
Sabyasachi Chakraborty: I saw the film at the first day of the fest. The opening film was Fakhrul Arefin Khan's “JK 1971,” where I played a character. I sat with the audiences and watched the film. Audiences liked the film. I was on stage at the opening ceremony, was in the opening film, that's the big thing.
MM: Let's compare a bit. Kolkata International Film Festival, it was held a few days ago. The arrangement was grandiose. Arrangement at Dhaka is not that glittering. However, Dhaka's film fest is older than Kolkata's. How do you see this matter?
SC: See those who are arranging it, have been doing it for a long time. It has not happened that any film made here has created a lot of hype within the country and abroad, except for one or two. Maybe it will happen in future. Then the fest's atmosphere will improve.
MM: That means organizing festivals is not enough. Along with that, it also matters how global the country's cinema is becoming.
SC: Yes. That's what I'm saying. Films that are being made in Bangladesh now, I think the future is very bright.
MM: Let's come to “JK 1971”now. It's said that this is country's first international film based on the Liberation War. What do you think as an actor- how global the film has become, in story, production and presentation.
SC: Quite global. This is not really a film of Liberation War, but a film of humanity. It'd be seen that a Frenchman is worried about Bangladeshi children in a refugee camp in Kolkata. Those children are dying due to lack of medicines and treatment. Driven by his thoughts, the French man does something that could be called wrong, as he puts many innocent passengers of the plane in danger. But his intention was to save Bangladeshi children.
The main message of the film is very current and global. Many children around the world are living such a helpless sick life even today. The main message of the films is that we should be humane to them too. We need to be well aware of the children all over the world. Only then the world in future will be beautiful. This is how a film becomes international.
MM: You played the role of a Pakistani pilot in the film. Did you have to prepare too much for the role?
SC: I grew up in Delhi as a child. I have been with people from Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Pakistanis are not very different from them. I have many friends connected with Pakistan as well. And I have such an appearance can I can easily be recognized as Pakistani!
MM: But you have the impression of a detective on your face!
SC: Yes. My face now bears the tag of Feluda. That too is true.
MM: Wanted to bring up this topic. This Benu Daa(Nickname), Sabyasachi Chakraborty (Official Name) has played numerous characters in one life. But the familiarity is based on one character, Feluda. Is this positive or negative for an artist to become a character surpassing his own name and identity? How do you see this?
SC: I see it positively. People know me more by the name of my character than my actual name. This is surely my success.
MM: But you have played so many roles in one life. Don't you feel bad for them? Because all the credits are in Feluda's hands!
SC: No, no. No regrets. I have done many characters, but Feluda is the character of my heart.
MM: Tollywood and Dhallywood, two film industries in two Bengals. There have been many great films by joint production, successful films. But it gradually became difficult due to various legal complications. The joint venture is declining. My first question is, how do you see it?
SC: Some people have abused joint productions I think. It does not entirely depend on the West Bengal government. It depends on the central government of India. So, if it goes a little beyond what central government wants, it will stop. This is normal.
But it would be nice to keep it going. I myself have worked in jointly produced films.
MM: On one side they say that if the cinema market becomes open in Bangladesh, the hall-owners will survive, the audiences will return, and the industry will develop. While on the other side they say that Bangladeshi cinema will be killed if the market becomes open. The producers will becomeunemployed, the country will become a market for Indian cinema! How do you analyze the situation with your experience?
SC: I am on both the sides. Bangladeshi films will improve immensely if the door of Bangladesh opens. But it will not be limited to Bengali, Hindi Tamil and Telugu films will arrive. Bangladeshi audiences will like them too. At the end of the day, both the Bengals will be on the losing side. Then the reason for the language movement, the reason for the birth of Bangladesh will fail. That means what both the sides say is right.
MM: So what can be the solution?
SC: Am I the person to provide solutions? Those who are intelligent will solve it, those who are policy makers. I am just an ordinary worker. I just want something to happen that would be good for everyone, for the cinema world.
MM: What we see from Bangladesh is that Tollywood is also bening cornered by the huge pressure of Bollywood.
SC: That's right. If a Bangla film gets five screenings at a multiplex, a Hindi one gets twenty. What does that mean? More people are watching Hindi films. Banglafilms are getting beat. If there were no Hindi films, Bangla films would get all twenty five screenings.
But if our Bangla films get twenty screenings, will the audiences watch it? Maybe ther would not be so many screens if Hindi films did not arrive.
So I am saying this again and again, without focusing on these things, we have to globalize Bangla films more. Bangla films should be advanced like Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films to give them competition. There is no point in blaming.
MM: Apart from working in Tollywood, Bollywoodand Dhallywood, you have also worked in Telugu film industry. There is no one better than you to tell the differences in work environment and quality.
SC: You see, the difference is solely economic. Now the budgets of films produced in South are more than Hindi. They have produced good technicians and creative people. It has to be in Bangla film industry too. We're not only being beaten in budget, we should pay attention to the technical side as well.
MM: Let's come to personal life. Achievements of your acting career.
SC: What to tell about the achievements. I did not even want to be an actor, I was forced to. And when I became one, my favorite character was Feluda, I got that too. I did not need anything else.
MM: Underachievement?
SC: Underachievement? I wanted to do a bit more tough guy roles. When I was young, I liked the performances of Clint Eastwood and Robert D in Hollywood. I wished I could make action films like them. But I never got such a role as no such movies were made at that time. People have many dreams. Not all of them come true. There is nothing to be sad about.
MM: What would you be if you were not an actor?
SC: Who knows? Maybe I would drive Thelagari. Maybe I'd sell vegetables. Who knows what would have happened. But the education I got or the way I grew up at home, I think I could have been a police officer, a doctor or an engineer. And if not, I could have been a driver!
MM: Driver!
SC: I like driving very much. Not racing. I am slow and steady. I traveled all over India by car. I have many records in driving.
MM: That means you have a collection of cars!
SC: Collection! Yes, once upon a time I had a collection of toy cars. And I have only one car to ride on.
MM: I want to return to the topic of Bangladesh. Lately, good films are being produced in Bangladesh. Recently, “Hawa” has shaken Kolkata. Bangladeshi actor CnchalChowdhury and Mosharraf Karim are also quite popular in Kolkata. Do you have any feedback or observations as a senior actor or guide?
SC: What observation again? I am not an observer. My only observation is, they are doing really well. May there be more prosperity and name with time. Let the name of Bengali actors spread all over the world.
MM: What comes to your mind when the name Bangladesh comes up?
SC: 1971. Language movement. Then I feel proud as a Bengali.
MM: Do you consider yourself as a successful person? If yes, how much do you think?
SC: Not very successful. It is not right to say I'm successful just because I have been able to entertain people by acting. Partly successful you could say. No one becomes successful just by appearing in news and getting interviewed on TV. My father was very successful. He was a double engineer. He wrote plays, songs, movies, poems, novels. He made eight millimeter films, created sets for plays, did long distance driving. He did a lot of things that I could not do. He was six feet four inches in height, taller than me.
MM: Does that mean he is the real Sabyasachi?
SC: Absolutely. He is the real Feluda, not me.
MM: You gave a very shocking announcement in this trip to Dhaka…
SC: What is shocking in it? Everyone has to retire at some point. Don't people retire from work after 60? I left that age a long ago. My retirement is natural.
MM: Is it officially the final decision?
SC: Nothing official. But I feel that I have nothing new to offer. So retirement can be done. It's not like I am writing on a bond paper that I will not act from today. Not like that. But I plan not to work anymore. I have done enough acting. Now there are lots of other works. Taking pictures, writing books and there are lots of chores in home.
I have worked outside for so long. My wife managed the house. Now my wife should work outside and I will take care of the house.
MM: Best wishes for your home life. Thank you very much for your time.
SC: Thank you.
