On March 13, six popular Calcutta names --- Gaurav Chakrabarty, Ridhima Ghosh, Iman Chakraborty, Srikanta Acharya, Ambarish Bhattacharya and Srijato Bandyopadhyay--- gathered at the Nonapukur Tram Depot for a special shoot for ITC Sunfeast Marie Light biscuits and engaged in a cracker of a tram adda to flag off the Tram Adda Festival.
In between the takes for the new TVC, Gaurav, Ridhima, Iman Chakraborty and Srikanta Acharya, talked about their tram memories, their last tram ride, their college days and much more. The adda session was moderated by Mir, who was dressed as a tram conductor for the shoot! Ambarish Bhattacharya and poet-lyricist-director Srijato also joined in. Snapshots.
“I am from Howrah. When I used to come to Calcutta, I used to mainly avail the train. But I have had the chance to board a tram and go around the city with friends quite a few times. But I can’t say that I have taken regular rides on a tram. For adda and fun, just like the one we are having today, I have boarded a tram. I don’t remember my last tram ride and that is very sad. We are living a very hurried life, but still, I would definitely love to board a tram in future,” said Iman Chakraborty.
“I have lots of memories of the tram. I grew up in Hindustan Park. So, my brother and I, along with our grandfather, used to walk from Hindustan Park and then get on the tram and go to Gariahat. That was for leisure. I really miss that, and I remember after that, we used to buy orange stick ice cream on our way back home. But I am inside a tram after ages today. I have shot on a tram before,” said Ridhima. Gaurav Chakrabarty, whose tram memories are mostly associated with his school days, said: “My favourite tram memories involve the area where we are shooting today. I studied in The Assembly of God Church School and our junior school is right opposite the tram depot where we are shooting today. I remember that I used to take a bus from where we lived and get off at Park Circus. And from there sometimes I used to take a tram and sometimes walk. So, the tram is synonymous with Park Circus to Mullick Bazar crossing from where I used to walk to school. Tram and Nonapukur Tram Depot and this entire area are very nostalgic for me.”
“I have many memories of boarding trams because my father used to prefer trams more to buses. We used to stay in Lake Gardens, so on the Tollygunge route, we havetaken numerous tram rides since childhood. Sometimes due to work and at times to go for a trip. At times, my father used to take us to Esplanade or Curzon Park and then the tram would return. When I was a student,my adda place was Gariahat and Dover Lane area, so we used to go to a Rashbehari tea shop and board the tram. I used to go to a friend’s house in Gariahat, also. So, I have many memories of boarding a tram from my childhood, teenage years and college days,” said Srikanta Acharya. “Throughout my music career, I have travelled to many cities around the world, but I have a weakness for cities where we have trams. And I have kept all my work aside and boarded a tram in those cities,” he added.