E-Paper
Teenkahon director Bauddhayan Mukherji disappointed with the film distribution model in Bengal
The director is disappointed with the way Teenkahon was distributed in West Bengal and has decided against making another Bengali film till the distribution model improves.
Teenkahon director Bauddhayan Mukherji is upset. One of the country’s most prominent ad filmmakers, Mukherji directed his debut Bengali film Teenkahon, starring Rituparna Sengupta, Dhritiman Chatterjee and Ashish Vidyarthi, in 2015. However, the director is extremely disappointed with the way the film was distributed in West Bengal and has decided against making another Bengali film till the distribution model improves. “I was disappointed with the way Teenkahon was distributed in West Bengal. We were taken for a ride by the distributors of the film and it hasn’t gone down well with me. So, the day when it becomes a bit more conducive for an independent filmmaker to survive in this industry (read Bengali), I will come back,” says Mukherji, whose next film will be in English.
The filmmaker was in Kolkata to attend the screening of his debut Hindi film, The Violin Player, at the 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival. The film, which revolves around a violinist who plays for Hindi films, also marks the Hindi film debut of Bengali actor Ritwik Chakraborty. Known for delivering powerful performances, Ritwik outshone in the role of a nameless violin player, who meets a stranger (Adil Hussain). The film, which was screened at Rabindra Sadan on Wednesday, was widely appreciated.
Mukherji is best known for directing the Bell Bajao ad, a campaign against domestic violence. He also sounds excited as The Violin Player, which was shot in 10 days, will soon be available on Netflix. As an independent filmmaker, who funds his own films, Mukherji firmly believes that the digital platform provides a great impetus to young filmmakers who don’t want to rely on the ‘external forces’ (read producers and distributors). “I agree it would have been better if independent filmmakers got the support of the government, but it’s a great time to be independent directors in India now,” says Mukherji, whose film The Violin Player has travelled to 24 national and international film festivals.
Teenkahon comprised three stories and was shot in three episodes. The Violin Player, says Mukherji, is based on a true story. Mukherji was also lucky to meet Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2014 where Teenkahon was screened in Indian Panorama section. “He told me that a director shouldn’t worry about the length of a film. So, when I was making the film I never thought about the length. I have used a lot of silence in the film,” says Mukherji, who is all praise for Ritwik.
