Shaheb Bhattacharjee
'Humanity supreme' is Shimanto's message: Actor Shaheb Bhattacharjee
Actor Shaheb Bhattacharjee plays an intense character in Suman Maitra's Bengali film Shimanto, which deals with cross-border child trafficking. India Blooms correspondent Souvik Ghosh brings the excerpt of his conversation with Shaheb on the film...
Q. Tell us about your character.
A. My character works in IB press. His department's job is to decide how much information regarding any attack will be disseminated among the public. All information is not disseminated to avoid hampering the investigation, the threat to national security and any diplomatic friction. My character fights with the seniors to disseminate information regarding a case related to child trafficking across the border.
He finds himself in an awkward situation as he is unable to disseminate entire information despite people having the right to know. His dilemmas are captured in the film.
Q. The subject is also very much relevant.
A. Yes. It is relevant at a time people are playing with religion. The main message of the film is humanity is supreme. It says life will be better if we can keep humanity above religion, caste. This message is imparted through two children in the film.
Q. Do you think this issue is raised appropriately in the present time?
A. Yes, yes. It is being raised in various spaces. Artistes, established people of our society have spoken out on this issue quite a number of times. Actually the situation has turned so hostile that it has somehow scared artistes to speak out. Like Aamir Khan's film was boycotted even before watching it.
People are scared of consequences but still they are still speaking out subtly through their works. The audience is able to understand completely.
Q. Do you have a fear of speaking out?
A. One will be fearful if he/she takes refuge in any political party or takes any advantage from it. I have never been associated with any political party remotely. So I do not have that fear. So I have protested in my own way against any injustice irrespective of political colours.
Basically, we can't sacrifice civility. A protest or an opposition has a decorum that should be maintained.
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