Raj Chakraborty’s film Shontaan, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Anashua Majumdar, Ritwick Chakraborty and Subhashree Ganguly, is a family drama with a strong social message. The film focuses on the consequences when a son refuses to take responsibility of his parents and then the father decides to take him to court. A t2 chat with Raj and Subhashree.

Raj, let’s start with your childhood stories of Mithun Chakraborty.

Raj: I have been a fan of Mithun Chakraborty since childhood. I could identify with his journey, from his struggles to his superstardom. It would inspire me. Of course, he is a brilliant actor. I would watch all his films. I would collect his pictures and write letters to him. He was my idol and I finally got to work with him on Dance Bangla Dance in 2005.
Subhashree: Raj was so fascinated with Mithun Chakraborty that he ran away from home, carrying only a comb, mirror and a picture of Mithun Chakraborty. His destination was Bombay and his plan was to go and meet him there. So he took a train.
Raj: I wrote him a letter first, stating that I would need his help and then boarded the train. I got detained in Burdwan and then a call was made to my parents. Two months later, I ran away again! My goal was to meet Mithun Chakraborty. But again I could not complete the journey (smiles).
Subhashree: Imagine! It is such an inspiring story. And now he has directed Mithun Chakraborty in Shontaan.

When did you finally meet him?

Raj: I was directing successful reality television shows at that time. For Dance Bangla Dance, we needed an eminent judge and I suggested Mithun Chakraborty’s name. That was in 2005. I could not sleep the previous night. We were supposed to meet him at a five-star hotel. The meeting went off really well. When the time came to shoot with him finally, I realised I had to get out of my fanboy space.

When did you first approach him to star in a film?

Raj: I had approached him for Proloy. But it didn’t work out. I won’t say for which role. Finally, Shontaan happened and I am extremely happy. This film wouldn’t have been possible without him. Shontaan was made keeping Mithun Chakraborty in mind. I feel he was born to act.
Subhashree: Working with Dada in a film was always on my bucket list and it happened with Shontaan. And this experience was so special.
Raj: When Dada stands in front of the camera, it’s magical.
Subhashree: Initially, I would visit the sets just to watch him perform. I would observe his process.
Raj: Dada would prepare meticulously for a few special scenes. On occasions, we were so moved that I even forgot to say ‘cut’.
Subhashree: When I go on the shooting floor, I think of the actors as characters. I also become a character. Apart from Dada, I also shared screen space with Kharajda (Mukherjee), one of the most powerful actors. In Shontaan, I play a powerful lawyer, and I had to come up with various methods to support Dada’s character of a father, who is weak but a fighter at the same time.

During breaks, I would talk to Dada and ask him about his process. He would always say that he was an organic actor who relied heavily on his instinct. And it is so true. Before an emotional scene, he would ask for five minutes to prepare and then deliver a phenomenal performance.

How did you prepare for your role?

Subhashree: I had lengthy dialogues and my job was to deliver them convincingly. I was careful about my body language.

Tell us about Shontaan’s theme.

Raj: We worked on the script for four to five months. This is not hyper-drama. Shontaan tells a very sensitive story. It reflects the situation of our times... when parents are left alone in their old age to fend for themselves. They are waiting patiently for their sons who live abroad to return home and look after them. When parents grow old they expect their children to be there by their side. But sadly that is not what is happening now.

The sons either live abroad or are busy with their lives... they live in separate apartments and hardly have any time for their parents. Security guards often look after ageing parents instead of their sons. It is a sad situation. If their children look after them even for a small amount of time on a regular basis they will feel happy and energised. All their worries will disappear. Shontaan pays a tribute to ageing parents. Hopefully, after watching this film, many children will realise their mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Initially, many people expressed their surprise when they got to know that you are making a family drama...

Raj: As a director, I want to tell a good story. I have directed films in every genre, from a children’s film to political films to action films to love stories to a family drama. I can make all kinds of films.

Why cast Ritwick as the son?

Raj: He is such a versatile actor. And he has always done different kinds of roles in my films. Ritwick’s scenes with Dada are a masterclass in acting. It was like a football match and we were watching from the gallery. I can see Ritwick in every film of mine playing a crucial role.

The same goes for Subhashree?

Raj: When I want to experiment with a role, I can see her. Subhashree plays a very important role in Shontaan.

When you were growing up, how was the situation between ageing parents and their children in society in general? Were the elderly being looked after then? Or has the situation deteriorated over the years?

Subhashree: I feel the situation was there... but it was kept under wraps. Now, people are not scared of repercussions... we hear it on the news. The situation is very unfortunate. The father in Shontaan has hit back. He is fighting for his rights... fighting to secure emotional responsibilities.
Raj: Ageing has become a major social challenge and hence there is a need to give more attention to the care and protection of senior citizens.
Subhashree: Parents look after their kids when they are born. And they expect their kids to look after them when they grow old. One must ensure the well-being and happiness of elderly parents and take care of them.