Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji chatted with us about his Durga Puja release Tekka, his experience of directing a hostage drama, and reuniting with Dev and Swastika Mukherjee.

You have had 10 Durga Puja releases so far. What is special about this year’s Puja and your film Tekka?

Srijit Mukherji: For once I am not very worried about whether people will come out in huge numbers to watch the film or not. But from the look of it, the city is coming back to its own during the Pujas. Given the three Bengali films releasing this year, I hope it’s going to do well.

What inspired Tekka and why do you think this is a story that needs to be told?

Srijit Mukherji: Bhaskar Chattopadhyay sent me the story a long time back. It was in English and it was supposed to be made in Hindi. Later, I changed my mind and made it in Bengali because getting a Hindi project rolling is time-consuming. I had locked a cast but for those dates I would have to wait for at least three-four years. I decided to tell the story first in Bengali and that is when I offered it to Dev.

The film highlights social justice…

Srijit Mukherji: The idea of social justice has been there since ages and it is an ever relevant theme. Recently we saw Jawan; the anti-hero has made a comeback. And I thought social justice is very relevant and powerful to explore in the form of a hostage thriller.

What are the challenges of directing a hostage drama?

Srijit Mukherji: The first challenge is how you can make it look non-monotonous and unpredictable. There have been lots of hostage thrillers and we have taken care of it in the writing stage. At the shot-taking stage, most of the drama unfolds in a room — we have to find out innovative angles and POVs and shots so that visually it is enticing and interesting. That is challenging. Space becomes very critical in such films.

Which are your favourite hostage films?

Srijit Mukherji: My favourites are Highway (2014) and Leon: The Professional (1994).

You are referring to Dev as Jack, Rukmini as King and Swastika as Queen from a deck of cards. Can you talk about the casting of Tekka?

Srijit Mukherji: Rukmini’s character Maya is defeminised, deglamorised and masculine. The way she walks, sits, manipulates and deals with situations is very manly and hence she is the king. Swastika is obviously the queen mother fighting for her child, and Dev is the janitor who serves society so that is why he is Jack.

A very important part in the film is played by Aameya, who is our EP’s daughter. She has accompanied Dev to a lot of shoots because of her mother and has spent time with him. We took a chance and auditioned her. She aced the audition and her chemistry with Dev was very natural. She is a huge Dev fan and, in fact, wants to marry him once she grows up and also wants to be his heroine! It is a natural banter that goes on between the two. I just tried to play on that.

Tekka marks your reunion with Dev after Zulfiqar. What took you so long to cast him?

Srijit Mukherji: In Zulfiqar, he was not involved with the craft in terms of his all-round interest. He was a dedicated actor who played out the director’s vision.

For Tekka, I had long conversations with him about the character and I could delve into the backstory, into the character’s motivations and hence, could build Iqlakh in collaboration with him, which was a very special process.

You are also reuniting with Swastika after Shah Jahan Regency. What do you think of how she has evolved as an actor?

Srijit Mukherji: Swastika has always been a very powerful actress. I work with her only when the role is something which is new in terms of challenges and something that no one else can pull off. Swastika really grabs a role and makes it her own.

We have an absolutely crackling chemistry because she knows what I want. She knows if I don’t like something; before I could say anything she would know what to do. That is the level of comfort I have with her.

You have worked with actors, such as Anindya Sengupta and Shruti Das, when they were new and not well-known. On the other hand, you have also worked with Dev and Prosenjit Chatterjee. How important is the star factor?

Srijit Mukherji: It is not important. I always look for characters and actors rather than stars. Every star has a hungry actor inside them and I try to tap that and leverage it.

When are you planning to release Shotyi Bole Shotyi Kichhu Nei?

Srijit Mukherji: In January 2025.