It was one of those afternoons in the middle of July when it rains heavily every 10 minutes and the sun comes rushing out right after. Recently, the cast and crew of the new KLIKK series Milkshake Murders, along with other guests, got together at the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute to attend the screening of the new suspense thriller. Directed by Riingo Banerjee, Milkshake Murders is about a failed author who meets another author, the writer of the mystery novel Milkshake Murders. Within 24 hours of meeting the man, he goes missing, seemingly dead from drowning. The failed author claims the story of Milkshake Murders and gets fame and praise for the book. The events that follow are filled with suspense and intrigue as there are more elements to the story than what is visible initially.
Trina Saha plays the role of Darshana, the owner of a big publishing house that publishes Milkshake Murders. She was present at the screening along with her co-star and husband, Neel Bhattacharya. The couple was twinning in red and white, strawberry milkshake colours in outfits custom-made by their own label, Kloth.
“When we were shooting for the series it did not feel like we were working... it felt more like a vacation with friends. Interestingly, it was the first time Neel experienced shooting on a phone. I have experienced that before with Riingoda. We have binge-watched the series already... web shows are not usually shown on big screens, but thanks to KLIKK they have arranged this screening for us. To watch something that has been shot on an iPhone on the big screen means a lot. My character gives off boss lady vibes. Milkshake Murders is something I own,” said Trina.
Neel plays the character of a failed writer who has his own ups and downs. “It was a fantastic experience shooting for Milkshake Murders. It felt like a family trip. This is my first web series. Hats off to Riingoda for actually shooting a theatre-quality film on an iPhone and for making me believe that this is possible. Moreover, I feel watching this series is like witnessing the future. If you have your content plan and a phone, you can shoot a film,” said Neel.
The couple also shared their love for travel with us. “We cannot choose between beaches and mountains. Travelling at large is something we love doing. Of course, during the summers it is the mountains and seas during the winter. We are always in the mood for Thailand. It is our favourite destination since the place is so welcoming and it is also just two hours away. Milkshake Murders has entirely been shot in Thailand in some stunning locations. We are always paying for excess baggage! In India, we really love going to Goa. We also recently visited Leh and it is gorgeous. Tips for travel enthusiasts are that you should do a thorough research, explore by yourself and travel with people who you vibe with,” said Trina.
Saurav Das, who plays the role of a writer in the show, was present at the screening. He said: “It is not every day that you get to watch a series on such a big screen. It was an outstanding experience to work with the Riingoda. I experimented a lot with my character, which has some grey shades. The audience can expect eccentricity out of this series. This show is a very new-age concept accompanied by Riingoda’s stylised making that he is known for. I love his intuition.”
Director Riingo Banerjee said: “We have shot the entire series on the phone and it was a fantastic experience. I am very happy that the result is ready for a theatrical release if required.”
Darshana Banik, who was there to support Saurav and the rest of the cast, told t2, “I had watched two episodes before the screening and I absolutely loved the improvisations that Saurav has brought in his character. Milkshake Murders has a great story and some really good performances.” Darshana and Saurav looked beautiful twinning in lilac.
“We are overwhelmed with the response at the premiere. The houseful turnout at the SRFTI auditorium comprised myriad industry guests. From eminent directors to actors, music directors, creators, fashionistas and technical personnel, they all had come to watch the series and wish the team well. Several of the family members of the cast and crew saw the series on the big screen for the first time. They all came up to us and were effusive in their congratulatory praises. We have always believed in raising the overall standards of not only film content but presentation, production and presence, too, with our outreach. The innovative KLIKK Championship Cricket Awards also bonded the film fraternity together and they were applauded at the end of the screening with a warm ceremonial award giving. The slick filmmaking, the chic looks and the international format of content curation in a film auditorium experience were truly memorable for all of us. This series directed by Riingo Banerjee has had one of our highest opening viewerships so far. We are thankful to our audiences for their consistent support and affection,” said Niraj Tantiya, director, KLIKK.
