Director Saptaswa Basu has started the shoot of his second feature film Pratidwandi, a crime thriller — starring Saswata Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghosh and Saayoni Ghosh — with the medical profession as the backdrop. Pratidwandi pays tribute to Satyajit Ray’s Calcutta trilogy. In the film, a young group comprising a law school pass-out, a computer engineer and a chartered accountant team up to form a detective agency, after they don’t get any conventional job. Doctor Bakshi (Saswata) comes to them for help after his child goes missing from school. While investigating this, the group comes across a teacher (Rudranil). The Telegraph chats with Saptaswa...

You have already shot for a few days. How’s the experience been like in the new normal?

The shooting experience is terrific. I wasn’t feeling alive for the last few months. Being on the floor of action is always fun. We have a great cast and crew and shooting a film requires a scale of mounting, particularly with the content I am dealing with. Therefore it’s exciting, stressful but very rewarding.

How careful is everyone about shooting during a pandemic?

Yes, everyone is taking proper precautions to shoot during the pandemic. The necessary sanitisation is maintained on the set/locations. We are shooting with a large number of crew as a Jimmy Jib and other equipment require manpower. Additionally the well-being of junior artistes and others are being maintained properly and they are being asked to do their work taking all safety measures. It’s a team work and a battle to be honest. But the shoot must go on.

I am following regular guidelines. Frankly, I totally get engrossed with direction, production and associated stuff simultaneously, so I just focus on each day and get the job done. Actors seem fine to shoot during pandemic. They are maintaining their share of precautions properly.

You are shooting in locations like Dankuni and Domjur and some places in Calcutta. Why pick these locations?

The film is set in and around Calcutta. The city itself is a character in the story, it’s a tribute to Ray’s Calcutta trilogy. And locations like Dankuni and Domjur add a flavour and dimension to the visual texture. We have got huge dilapidated houses... and a few bungalows in these locations too that are required for the story. Most of the film has the feel of a chase to it... it’s on the road, and about a cat-and-mouse game. So these locations are being explored keeping in mind the overall setting of the screenplay. These locations were picked after scouting many alternatives and the best part about these is that they match the pattern and palette of our scenes.

How was it like directing Rudranil?

Rudranilda is a treat to work with. He is very involved with the character and treatment. His experience and in-depth understanding of the art helps the team to enhance the scenes as well. He is living the character of Sukumar Sen. Monitoring each shot of his performance has been a delight and my co-ordination with him is also good.

Are you discussing every point with him? Is he giving inputs?

He reads a character well, goes into the past and surroundings of the character, even beyond the script. From the look, eye movement, dialogue scanning to body language, he has discussed it thoroughly with us and blended himself well. He gives intelligent inputs and we also share our views to make the character organic with various shades. Paean is playing the role of Sukumar Sen’s wife, Atreyee Sen. They portray a loving family.

How is Saayoni Ghosh shaping the character?

Saayoni is such a natural actor and a lovely person. She is very co-operative and friendly. She had done a special appearance in my first film and the experience was so nice that she is an important part of my second one. She is playing an MLA in the film and has fit into the character in an amazing way. It has added a different flavour to the film, a strong female character with secrets. She is excited about it as she is exploring such a character for the first time.

In fact, all the important characters are shaping up well with Maahi Kar playing a hospital admin, Rini playing a detective in the team, Saurav the lead investigator and so on.

You are also shooting with child actors...

I am shooting with child actors for the second time. I had previously done an ad with a large number of child actors. You have to trust them to do their part and take care of their little demands and mood. Satyaki and Debkonya are both very sweet and intelligent. They have given most of the shots properly in the first take. They have gelled well with Rudranilda, Paean, Maahi and made the workplace fun with their chats about school, parents, and games.

In these two-three days of shoot there have been a few fun moments originating from the child actors, specially Debkonya. She mumbles so many phrases sweetly, links one word to another that we cannot stop laughing. In fact Rudranilda posted a video of her on his social media where she is selling paper napkins as breads.

What are your shoot plans with Saswata Chatterjee?

Saswatada is joining the shoot within a few days in the role of a doctor. My equation with him has been great in the past and I feel very relieved when he is there. I feel it’s going to be energetic and dynamic. His inputs are to be noted as well. I want to present him differently in this film so that the audience gets an element of surprise.