The motion poster of the upcoming pulp thriller Shri Swapankumar-er Badami Hyena’r Kobole was launched at Kenilworth Hotel on September 13. The poster has Abir Chatterjee looking dapper as the detective in a signature hat. Paran Bandopadhyay aka Swapankumar holds the apparatus, which has the key to the terrorist ‘Badami Hyena’r’ lifeline.
Directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya, and inspired by the famous pulp stories of Swapankumar, the film stars Abir Chatterjee in the lead as Deepak Chatterjee, a detective in his novels, along with Paran Bandyopadhyay as the writer Swapankumar. Shruti Das takes on the role of Tashi and Pratik Dutta is seen as Ratanlal. In a city threatened by the international terrorist Badami Hyena, a forgotten detective, Deepak Chatterjee, is brought out of retirement by his creator, prolific pulp writer Swapankumar. They unite with Ratanlal, Tashi and other characters in this pulp-drama-mystery-thriller film. There is also a glimpse of Deepak Chatterjee’s most glorious nemesis, Bajhpakhi.
The story sees Deepak Chatterjee and his confidant Ratanlal on a mission to find the notorious terrorist Badami Hyena.
“Pulp drama has rarely been explored in Bengali cinema, and considering this is Hoichoi Studios’ inaugural project, it had to be nothing short of spectacular. Abir and Shruti delivered impeccable performances, while Paranda’s acting prowess is bound to leave the audience spellbound, as he always does. I eagerly hope that the release of the first look managed to pique the audience’s curiosity and build excitement for the film. The film wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Hoichoi Studios. Almost a forgotten character, unacknowledged and hidden, Swapankumar’s Deepak Chatterjee has the potential to stand out. We’ve worked on making it a detective film, one that hasn’t been chanced upon before. Here’s hoping everyone will like it,” said director Debaloy Bhattacharya.
Shruti Das plays Tashi. “She’s filled with mystery and humour, she’s endearing and determined. She’s a lot of things and to understand her you need to watch the film. My character sports a whole range of attires. There’s pink hair, there’s leather, there are kurtis. As an actor, you have to fit into the part that you’re playing, physically and mentally. Yes, dressing up as Tashi was difficult because my personal style is nothing like Tashi’s. It was challenging but also quite amusing and fun. I don’t roam around in pink wigs (laughs), I’m a track pants and sneakers person. The genre, look and feel of the movie are going to be completely fresh and new. I hope we’ll get the love and support from our audience,” she added.
“Amidst so many detectives in Bangla novels and films, Deepak Chatterjee is going to stand out, as it did when Swapankumar created the character. The character is starkly different from the quintessential detectives that people have witnessed throughout Bengali cinema,” said Pratik who plays Ratanlal.
As Abir Chatterjee took the stage to thank the team, he also addressed members of his fan club present there. “I want to thank you all for being there. Throughout my journey, you’ve supported me and it’s overwhelming. More than what we think about the poster and what’s to come, the audience’s reaction matters to us. In a tech world, where people cannot do without social media, real-life experiences have become essential, as they’re rare. Being a performer I feel applause matters, and everyone has their phones in their hands. The pulse is very important, so more than the crew commenting on what’s next, we’re depending on the reaction and feedback from the audience who’ll be a part of the upcoming events related to the film,” said Abir.
While introducing the rest of the crew, Abir said, “We know how a film cannot be made without the crew who works behind it. I feel the crew members are not always under the limelight, but always at the forefront when it comes to working hard and pulling off the film. I know how hardworking my team is, so everyone deserves due recognition.”
