Thana Theke Aschhi

Two of a kind

Parambrata and Paoli on the sets of Thana Theke Ashchhi. (Aranya Sen) Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Paoli, the lead actors of Sharan Dutta’s Thana Theke Ashchhi, were a little edgy on the sets and not without reason. For January was the last time when Parambrata faced the camera (for 033), before turning director with Jiyo Kaka!. And since Paoli’s character doesn’t have a single dialogue in the film, she was all knotted up to get her body language right. Sweating in the sweltering heat at Bharat Lakshmi Studio on Prince Anwar Shah Road, Parambrata laughed: “Sometimes I think why am I in front of the camera? I should be behind it!” Paoli chirped: “I am enjoying my work more than ever before. My character goes through various phases. Her interaction with each character in the film is different. The novelty is that she doesn’t utter a single word. That is the most challenging part because I have to emote through my eyes. And since I have no dialogues I am making up my own to suit the scenes.” Paoli and Parambrata have been paired together for the third time in Thana Theke Ashchhi, after Kalbela and Box No. 1313. “We are a lot more comfortable working with each other now,” they chorused. In Thana Theke Ashchhi, Parambrata plays Arin, a filmmaker whom Paoli meets for a job. “Arin is perhaps the only character in the film who truly loves my character. The rest — Rudranil Ghosh, Aloknanda Roy, Srabonti and Dulal Lahiri — look down upon her,” said Paoli. The film also stars Sabyasachi Chakraborty. Though Paoli’s role seems to have shades of Madhabi Mukherjee’s character in the Uttam Kumar-starrer Thana Theke Ashchhi, director Sharan insists his film is inspired by the stage adaptation of Thana Theke Ashchhi. “Paoli is not playing Madhabidi, neither is Benuda (Sabyasachi) playing Uttam Kumar in my film. It was my idea that Paoli’s character shouldn’t have any dialogue in the film,” said Sharan before rushing for the next shot.

KUSHALI NAG