After the resounding success of the series and the detective film The Eken in 2022, Eken Babu, aka Ekendra Sen, the lovable new Bengali sleuth on the block, is returning to theatres on Poila Baisakh with The Eken — Ruddhaswas Rajasthan. This time, the action is set in Rajasthan and promises a spectacular journey amidst its sandy deserts, evoking the thrill of Satyajit Ray’s Feluda film, Sonar Kella. Joining the original team of Eken Babu and his cohorts Bapi and Pramatha, is popular actress Sandipta Sen, who will be seen in a significant role. A t2 chat with Sandipta on the movie, her character, her experience, expectations from it and more. Excerpts.
The trailer of The Eken — Ruddhaswas Rajasthan captures the excitement of Ray’s iconic thriller Sonar Kella.
Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella is definitely a milestone movie in many ways and for Bengali film lovers it arouses a different kind of nostalgia. We have all grown up watching this film and continue to do so even today. In fact, our film is designed as a tribute to Ray’s film, that is why it has been set in Rajasthan and was shot in parts inside the Jaisalmer fort and also in Jodhpur’s Circuit House, just like Sonar Kella. Other than that, there is nothing in Ruddhaswas Rajasthan that is similar to Sonar Kella. It is true they are both detective films, but the stories of both films are completely different from one another and the characters are entirely different too. The plot of this film is in no way connected with Ray’s film. Our story is about Eken Babu, a detective, and how he and his friends get involved in a mystery during a vacation to Rajasthan. An important scenic difference is that Ruddhaswas Rajasthan depicts many other remarkable spots of Jaisalmer besides the fort such as Bada Bagh, Kuldhara and many others. I am certain no other Bengali movie has shown the sights and sounds of Jaisalmer city as beautifully or in as much detail as this film.
So how much of the film was shot on location? You must have visited many interesting places while making it.
Yes, the majority of the film was shot on location in Rajasthan. Only a small part was shot on sets in Calcutta. We shot in varied locations and the cast and crew had a wonderful time touring all the interesting spots despite our hectic schedule. It was a unique experience shooting in the beautiful Khuri sand dunes and among the undulating terrain of the desert in Jaisalmer. As I mentioned earlier, we shot in the haunted village of Kuldhara and in Bada Bagh, a magnificent garden of monuments in memory of the royal family of the place. Apart from that, we shot in the streets, at street-side shops and in Nachana Haveli, a lovely old mansion in the heart of Jaisalmer. And of course, we shot extensively inside the main ‘Sonar Kella’ fort in the morning, afternoon and even after dark, so that the beauty of the fort can be visualised by the audience exactly in the way it appears during different times of the day. I feel that after watching this film, Bengali travel buffs’ desire to visit Jaisalmer will be rekindled in a big way.
So you must have made some unforgettable memories while shooting for Ruddhaswas Rajasthan…
Oh yes, of course, many. Though we had to work within very tough timeframes, we would have a lot of fun as well. There were quite a few funny incidents during our trip, of which I want to mention a small one. Since all of us in the unit were big-time foodies, this memory will always be very special. Late one afternoon, the cast was walking through a bylane to reach a wide road, where the shoot was supposed to take place. As we approached the end of the lane, I spotted a sweet shop and was very tempted by the sight of moong dal halwa being sold there. Unable to resist, I bought some and immediately tasted a spoonful, and it was very delicious. I asked the others around me to taste it too, and soon everyone was taking bites of this heavenly dessert. Except Anirbanda (Chakrabarti), who was not at all willing to eat anything before a shot. But seeing the reactions of everyone around him, even he could not stop himself from trying out a little. No sooner had he taken the first bite than his whole expression changed and soon, every one of us, including him, and our director Joydeepda (Mukherjee) had each bought separate cups of the sweet and there we were, standing by the roadside, devouring moong dal halwa to our hearts’ content!
Sandipta Sen in The Eken — Ruddhaswas Rajasthan, which releases in theatres on April 14 worldwide
Tell us something about Rajyashree Sen, the character you portray.
As you probably know, my character is a museum curator. Before I was given this script, I had hardly any knowledge of this profession. So I sat down with my director and discussed her probable educational qualifications, her subjects of interest and things she might possibly be interested in. In the film, we see that Rajyashree is fond of sketching and reading. In fact, I was given a diary to fill in with sketches and writings that Rajyashree would have made. I found it helpful as it enabled me to get into her character in depth and understand her feelings, emotions and ideas. A thorough professional, she is entrusted with the care of all the museum’s artefacts. She is passionate about her work and takes her responsibilities very seriously.
How challenging was the role? What sort of homework was necessary to become your character?
I searched on the Internet and found out in detail about museum curators — what is the nature of their job, how exactly they carry out their tasks, etc. And before we shot the museum scenes, I went over each and every artefact and antique piece on display, found out what each of them was, why they had been kept there, and in what order or series they had been arranged. Since in the story Rajyashree had sourced them and had them kept in the different display cabinets, I felt it necessary to know about those objects myself. I found it quite interesting to play her and enjoyed portraying her character in all its nuances.
You have worked in thrillers like Shikarpur and Murder in the Hills. Did they in any way influence your decision to take on this role?
No, not really. Bengalis are well-known for their fondness for thrillers, and I proudly consider myself one among them. But though I am interested in the thriller genre, I was drawn to this film all the more because it is an Eken Babu film. Eken Babu started off in a web series, but the character became so popular that they adapted it for a film, which is a first in our country. And then the film became such a hit that now they are making another film based on the same character! Also, the prospect of being a part of a thriller, based in Jaisalmer and to be shot inside ‘Sonar Kella’ attracted me a lot, as all Bengalis have a strong emotional connection with these places. Last but not the least, I greatly looked forward to working with our director Joydeep Mukherjee, and all my wonderful co-actors, who I admire a lot.
How would you compare your role or experience in your earlier thrillers, with this one? Which one would you name as your most satisfying work?
This is my first film, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Yet, I cannot compare it with my previous roles as they are all different. In Murder in the Hills I had grey shades. In Shikarpur I was the love interest of the detective and I had my own journey where I got entangled in a fraud case while job hunting. Rajyashree is totally different from either of them. Without giving away any clues about her I can say that her role gave me a chance to do something I have never done before; I had to work on the character to bring out all the layers of her persona. I am excited for the audience to watch it and give their feedback. Having said that, to me, each character I have portrayed is important and special in its own way, and they all have given me tremendous satisfaction.
What’s next for you — films or web series? Any more thrillers in store?
I have just finished shooting for a web series by Aditi Roy and I think it will be out soon. I am equally open to films, television and OTT as each medium is rewarding in its own way. I look forward to doing various types of roles and I wish to act in all sorts of stories — from romance to thriller to historical and family drama, provided I get the opportunity to explore and play different types of characters. I have been fortunate to get the love, adulation and support of thousands of fans so far and I request them to see Ruddhaswas Rajasthan when it hits theatres on Poila Baisakh. I hope they will like it very much.
