Kaberi is a triumph story of women: Paoli Dam

Q. You had earlier complained about getting offers for complex roles, which are in contrast to your personal self. Why did you return to a complex character so soon with Kaberi?

A. I think somehow the audience expects complex characters from me. Also the directors and producers cast me in such roles. It has kind of turned into my signature style. I am fine with both multilayered, complex characters as well as simple roles.

Paoli Dam in Kaberi | Photo courtesy: Hoichoi

Q. Could you figure out why you are roped in for complex roles mostly?

A. It's partly because I have played complex characters right at the start of my career. It's not that I don't love those roles because it's a pleasure to work on such characters which are explored onscreen. I want to speak out on issues like women empowerment, taboos regarding women. I am not an activist but what I can do is, speak through my art form. I think the roles kind of discovered me and vice-versa. It was not a conscious choice at the start of my career but later it happened consciously. It was important for me to speak on key issues centred on women through my roles.

Q. Do you interpret and experiment with your roles being in the periphery of complex characters for long? Did that happen with Kaberi?

A. Yes, I do. I ask a lot of questions throughout the filming. I bring out my own perspectives. Initially, I had faced trouble adjusting to the character, Kaberi, because she was not powerful and revolting unlike me. Kaberi undergoes a transformation but with experiences. Kaberi is shaky, timid, and soft-hearted despite being an educated woman who teaches mathematics to students. So I had a lot of debates with Sauvik (Sauvik Kundu, director) on the basis of the role. I always wondered how a woman could be non-violent for long even after suffering domestic violence. However, the story is about women empowerment and triumph.

Q. Do you think women, whose self-discovery comes late, take time to revolt?

A. Yes, definitely. It takes time for self-discovery and reflection because women are accustomed to our societal system with deep-rooted patriarchy. We normalise not only sexist words but actions at times without realisation. Patriarchy is ingrained in our system.

Fortunately, I grew up in an ecosystem of equality. I had responsibility towards my brother because he was younger than me. The same would have applied to him if my brother was older than me. I was not brought up with gender discrimination. So I could understand these spaces of patriarchy much later in my life. My family and relatives believe in equality. I stress on equality in any space I am being part of. For me, we mean humanity.

Q. Since you didn't see inequality in your immediate surroundings, did you face hurdles in picking up the intricacies of patriarchy in films?

A. Umm... I haven't thought of it actually. I have developed an understanding of patriarchy from the kind of scripts I was part of and the directors who had led me in the early stages of my career. Moreover, I have derived a personal philosophy from my life experiences over the years. I have applied my philosophy, which is a summation of all kinds of influences along with my own experiences, in my works. I don't go by others' understanding.

Paoli Dam in Kaberi | Photo courtesy: Hoichoi

Q. Does emotionally-taxing roles like Kaberi bring out a change in you as an individual?

A. Yes, a change occurs. I am inspired by my characters. Kaberi's resilience, patience and humaneness have inspired me. Like every other character, Kaberi has made me wiser. I think a portion of myself is ingrained in all my characters and the other-way round.

Q. How did the RG Kar incident impact you?

A. It was shocking. I was devastated. Kolkata has given me the meaning of my existence but it was disheartening to see such an incident taking place in my own city. It's shocking that such a heinous crime took place at a prestigious institution. It goes without saying that exemplary action should be taken against the culprits so that another incident of this sort doesn't happen. We have normalised rape and marital rape. The laws need to be implemented forcibly.

Adding to that, people in the administration should do their job. If they have committed an error, they should correct it so that common people are not compelled to hit the streets for protests. The lapses in the internal system need to be fixed irrespective of who is in power.