Hubba Bratya Basu on Hubba: My political orientation played no role in the film based on a Bengal gangster
Actor-filmmaker-politician Bratya Basu's upcoming directorial Bengali film, Hubba, is based on the life of gangster Hubba Shyamal Das from West Bengal's Hooghly. Ahead of the film's release, IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh catches up with Basu, who is also the state's education minister, on the film as well as Hubba Shyamal who has been portrayed by Bangladeshi actor Mosharraf Karim. Excerpts...
Q. How much Hubba's personal life attracted you to make a film on him?
A. It did not attract me but I have shown his personal life as an element. In Hindi films, we tend to sell Indianism when we showcase a gangster's personal life. There is always a tendency to show happy marriage bonds in the life of a gangster. I am not ready to view marital life through this kind of a prism. I believe a gangster's marital life is also full of danger, doubt, love and hate just like the one of any middle class married couple. I have explored that in my film.
Q. It was heard that Hubba had a sort of nexus with the then ruling party of West Bengal. Has it been explored in this film?
A. Yes, there have been references but they were all at district levels. I haven't made this film to target any ruling party but just for the sake of making it. It would be wrong to say my political orientation has played a role in the film. Good or bad, I approached the film as an artiste. I have made political references as per the requirements.
Q. You had worked with Mosharraf Karim in Dictionary. Did you approach him while making that film or later?
A. I decided to make a film with Mosharraf Karim while doing Dictionary. By the time of Dictionary's release, I had approached Mosharraf Karim and asked him whether he would collaborate with me. He instantly agreed to do it upon reading the script.
Q. Since you hold a top position in the government and deal with public service, can you completely switch off from the world of governance and politics when you shoot?
A. It is difficult but I try to switch it on and off. On a lighter note, if politicians can face journalists in the age of technology then fulfilling government duties is nothing challenging (laughs). Now the media has so much exposure! A news article published by a portal is carried by the mainstream media. On a serious note, I am the head of a department, which has about a dozen bureaucrats who run the show. The minister takes the decision which is implemented by the officers. So I don't think it's a major problem.
Q. Was Indraneil Sengupta your first choice for the role of detective?
A. No, no. I had approached another actor who had a different schedule. Moreover, he was not ready to get a clean shaven. Then I thought of Indraneil, whose work has mesmerised me. I would love to work with him again in future.
Q. In one of your previous interviews, you said you love acting more than direction. When are you returning to acting?
A. I love acting because it requires less hard work (laughs). I am waiting for offers. People might be thinking I am busy, which is just a perception. I am keen to work as an actor.
(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)
The writer is a Kolkata-based entertainment, sports and political correspondent with IBNS. He can be reached on thisissouvikghosh@gmail.com.
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