Probashi- Cover Story
Probashi- Cover Story
Interview with Goutam Ghose continues to be the costume designer for my films. Ma Bhoomi took two years to complete primarily because of financial bottlenecks. On 23 March 1979 the film was released. It was a major hit and marked break from the song and dance based Telegu movies. Even today after 33 years of the release of Ma Bhoomi a group of people in Andhra Pradesh celebrate the birthday of Ma Bhoomi on 23 March every year. The grip that the film still continues to have surprises me. Once I was invited to Alipur Jail, Calcutta for attending a painting exhibition by the convicts. The Jail Superintendent informed me that a Naxalite convict named Telegu Deepak wanted to meet me, I was intrigued and agreed. Telegu Deepak greeted me with a loud Daandam Dashakalu and thanked me for making Maa Bhoomi. He informed that the film had inspired many like him to become revolutionaries. I am told that even today Ma Bhoomi is considered a cult movie by Naxalities.
Your first national award was for Ma Bhoomi. How did it feel for a 28 year old to walk up to the stage and receive the award from no less than Dr Zakhir Hussain, President of India.
I was young then, out to change the world, and rather anti establishment in outlook. The honour from the establishment was not something to revel about.
So here you were now a top shot director, Producer’ s would have queued up at your doorstep. It was logical to continue with Telegu Cinema. You never made another film in Telegu but concentrated on Bangla and Hindi cinema.
Ma Bhoomi box office success was entirely unexpected. Yes many
Telegu film producers approached, but the themes and topics didnot fire me. I wanted to make a film in Bangla based on Samaresh Bose’ s novel Sreemati Café with the Bangla superstar Uttam Kumar in the lead, however untimely death of Uttam Kumar leads to shelving of the project.
Despite being a very successfull film director you continue to make documentaries. You have sketched on celluloid outstanding personalities like Satyajit Ray, Bismillah Khan, Kanika Bandhopadhyay, Dalai Lama, Utpal Dutt, Jyoti Basu amongst others. Which personality has influenced you the most?
After having completed four feature films – MaBhoomi, Dakhal. Paar and Antarjali Yatra, I introspected and questioned whether whatever I was doing was it worthwhile. I thought of taking a hiatus from movies and explore other art forms, and the best way to do so was to make documentaries on artists across various art forms. First in this series was documentary on Utpal Dutt who was a friend.. The next on Kanika Bandhopadhyay( Mohordi) required all my persuasive skills to make Mohordi face the camera. She argued that with age she was not so attractive, I countered saying that each age has its beauty and that her voice is ageless and requested her to allow me to capture her and her voice for the future generations. My Father in Law and Mohordi were classmates at Shanti Niketan and that helped. The person who really changed me was Ustaad Bismillah Khan. It was a joy to film him. Ustaad Bismillah Khan reminded me that while there are lots of artists there are a very few saadhaks( devotee of an art form). I have never come across a more humble person in my life, and must I saw he changed me. Even today whenever in doubt or restive, I think of Ustaad Bismillah Khan. For the documentary on Satyajit Ray which was done after his death,, Bijoya di( Ray’ s widow) left his entire study at my disposal where I ventured with reverence.
We are to understand that Satyajit Ray had applauded your talent on many occasions. What was the best compliment he gave you?
Manik da( Ray) saw all my films till Padma Nadir Majhi. He used to call
Gautam Ghose receives a pat on the back from the veteran film director Mrinal Sen