The trailer of Suman Ghosh’s upcoming film Basu Paribaar was launched in the presence of lead cast Soumitra Chatterjee, Aparna Sen, Sudipta Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar in the Tollygunj Golf Club yesterday (19 March). A family drama, Basu Paribaar also features veteran actress Lily Chakraborty, Rituparna Sengupta, Jisshu Sengupta, Kaushik Sen, Subhasish Mukherjee and Saswata Chatterjee in important roles.
Basu Paribaar is based on James Joyce’s short story, The Dead. The director reportedly thought about making the film 15 to 20 years back when he first read the story. “I was not a filmmaker when I first read the story and I felt that it could be easily adapted into the Bengali context. I wished if Aparna Sen or Rituparno Ghosh could make the film then. Now I feel so glad that I have made the film and Aparna Sen is in the lead cast,” stated the director.
Ghosh stated that while choosing the cast of the film, he primarily concentrated on the ones that he really admires. “I have worked with Soumitra da, Supdita and Kaushik quite a few times. All I can say that a lifelong relationship has begun with all the actors I have worked for the first time in this film as well, including Jisshu and Sreenanda,” added the maker of Nobel Chor, Kadambari, Dwando and many other films.
The director was warned for working with such a huge cast in the beginning, but his spirit was rather undaunted and he felt as if the film was representing the history of Bengali cinema by featuring the most iconic names of different generations of actors. “It was a fantastic journey. I cannot say whether it has been made into a good film or a bad film, but all I can say is that I am satisfied with my work. I have put all my efforts so if the film is not loved by the audience the entire responsibility will be upon me,” commented the director.
Basu Paribaar is slated for release on 5 April.