Nothing’s original in this world, not even our dreams: Birsa Dasgupta
Birsa Dasgupta doesn’t mind doing remakes; also admits it’s a difficult task to launch a new actor.
Filmmaker Birsa Dasgupta’s last Bengali film, Shudhu Tomari Jonyo (2015), starring Dev, was a hit. This year, he will be seen launching a new face, Yash Dasgupta. However, the filmmaker still doesn’t consider himself to be ‘successful’. “I was happy after delivering a hit like Shudhu Tomari Jonyo. But it’s nothing. I want to give myself four-five years before talking about success. I still don’t believe I am a successful director. Success comes with more films,” says Birsa, who will start shooting his next in winter. Birsa is one of the six directors, whose film, Gangster, starring Yash and Mimi Chakraborty, is up for a Puja release. The director speaks to HT City on films, remakes, shooting is Istanbul during an attempted coup and more:
Till a few years ago, filmmaker Raj Chakraborty was known for launching fresh faces (Soham, Mimi, Bonny Sengupta to Koushani Mukherjee) in Bengali film industry. Now you too are launching newcomer Yash.
As an integral part of the film industry, I believe it’s not only important to introduce new heroes but also introduce new talents in other departments. My debut film, 033 (2010) introduced Mumtaz Sorcar to the big screen. Chandrabindoo started composing music for Bengali films with 033. Srijato penned his first lyrics for a Bengali film with 033. I have introduced a new music director, lyricist, singer or an editor with all my films. Fresh talents challenge me as a filmmaker. As far as Yash is concerned, he was waiting in the wings to be here. And yes, my most successful film (Shudhu Tomari Jonyo) has been with Dev. He is like an elder brother and we will again work together. But this story demanded a fresh face.
Watch the trailer of Gangster:
There’s always an added responsibility whenever a filmmaker introduces a new hero.
It was Yash who came up with the story. I am happy that I have been given the responsibility to launch him. It’s always a difficult task to launch a new hero. We were always the underdogs amidst all big releases. Nobody expected a director with one hit film under his belt to create the buzz we have done. The songs are chartbusters and I am glad people are accepting Yash. After Shudhu Tomari Jonyo, people started recognising me on the streets. This time, I have received genuine reactions from common people and that makes me happy.
Read: I am ready to work with Raj in the future: Mimi Chakraborty
Your debut film 033 had original content. You followed it up with two more films, Jaani Dekha Hobe (2011) and Obhisopto Nighty (2014), which too had original content. However, you soon shifted to making remakes like Galpo Holeo Sotyi (2014) and Shudhu Tomari Jonyo (2015).
I was in my late 20s when I made 033. As a director, I want to make all kinds of films. Mani Ratnam and Rajkumar Hirani influence me in the same way as Jean-Luc Godard. We can’t differentiate after a point because everyone is trying to sell their kind of product. The formula of mainstream has changed over the years. If you watch Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani or 3 Idiots, you see that there’s a blend of class and mass. So, if I am trying to make my content massy and the visuals classy, I have been trying to do so since Galpo Holeo Sotyi.
So, you must be happy that Yash is being launched in a film that has original content.
(Cuts in) Be it in Bollywood or in other parts of the world, no one is concerned if a film is a remake or original. I think it’s a Bengali thing. In the last few years, all the major blockbusters in Bollywood have either been remakes or have drawn inspiration from other films. No one is bothered. Today, I am making an original film. Tomorrow I will again remake a film and day after I will again adapt something.
Arindam Chatterjee, the music director of your new film, has been charged with plagiarism.
Gangster (2006), which launched the biggest star Kangana Ranaut, was also not based on an originally subject.
Read: If I do remakes, it should be better than the original one: Yash Dasgupta
So, you support remakes and plagiarism.
(Cuts in) I support good cinema and hits. There’s nothing called original. We are not geniuses. This is not Renaissance. We are all very mediocre and I am the biggest among them. We are just surviving because we have some skills. We are lucky that in the last 100 years people have created a lot of art. We are consciously or subconsciously replicating them. So, nothing is original not even our dreams.
You have done three films with Parambrata Chatterjee — 033, Jaani Dekha Hobe and Obhisopto Nighty. Any plans of collaborating with him again?
Param is a family friend. We have mutual love and respect for each other and it’s not restricted to our professions. We will again work together.
