There are shoots and then there are shoots. We called Koel Mallick a month ago with a request — to convince her parents Ranjit and Deepa Mallick and husband Nispal Singh (Rane) for a festive photoshoot with The Telegraph , something which had never been attempted before. We had an added request. To shoot it at the legendary Mallick Bari in Bhowanipore, with the idol of Ma Durga as the backdrop. Koel not only chalked out a suitable date for us by when preparations would be on in full swing, but also laughed her trademark laugh and promised us she’d try to convince Rane. Fingers crossed, we said, and something told us this would work out. The Mitin Mashi star called us back a few days later and handed over the phone to Rane. “Rane, please tell them if you are doing the shoot!” she laughed. We went ‘yay’ when he said ‘yes’!
On a sultry September afternoon, the lovely family of four arrived at the Mallick Bari, in their festive finery and we made many a memory. Post-shoot, we sat down for a candid chat on shooting together, the history of Mallick Bari and the bliss of bonding.
How difficult or easy was it to convince all of them?
Koel: I know he (Rane) is enormously comfortable behind the camera, but to be in front of the camera is a big task for him (laughs). So definitely his permission was the first challenge. Baba, ma ke aami jani ki kore manage korte hobe and baba is more than happy, always, but ma also (laughs)... The shoot was so much fun! We had been looking forward to the shoot.
Is this the first time that all four of you have come together for a shoot?
Koel: I think this is the first time for the Pujas...
Deepa: Never ever...
Rane: There has never been a planned photoshoot like this one.
More than four decades and going strong. The beautiful couple Deepa and Ranjit Mallick.
So, Rane, how was it?
Koel: Yayy!
Rane: It’s always difficult for me to pose and get ready....
Koel: He is too real a person...
Rane: Whatever I am, I am... it is very difficult for me, but it came together well. It was like an examination for me!
Koel: It is very difficult to convince him. Candid pictures are fine.... On our first pujo post-marriage, I told him you can’t be wearing your torn jeans (laughs), but jokes apart, white is his favourite and he wears a lot of white during Pujas. Every year my mother is like ‘jamai ki porbe, jamai’r ki pochhondo...!’
Deepa Mallick: He wears very simple clothes and likes to be comfortable.
Koel, did he pass today?
Koel: I am sure! (Laughs). I was telling baba, tumi dujonke (Deepa and Rane) manage koro.
Deepa and Ranjit Mallick: Khub bhalo hoyechhe.
Koel: It was more about having fun in front of the camera.
For Koel, her father has been her hero. This frame is oh-so- lovely!
Deepa aunty and Ranjit uncle, how was it shooting together?
Ranjit: Aamake ektu eke nojore rakhte hoy jate hashita still na hoye jaye! Otherwise everything was first class!
Deepa: We shot many many years back... it was fun.
What do the four of you like doing as a family?
Deepa: Chatting.
Koel: When baba is around, there cannot be a second without laughter. He believes a day without laughter is a day wasted. At the end of the day, only moments in life counts. He made ma feel very special in the morning... ‘Aaj notun heorine eshe gechhe... please get her some special coffee and tea!’ (laughs) to uplift her spirit for the shoot. We also have deep conversations about life but at the same time, it is a lot of fun.
Like mother, like daughter. Beautiful. Koel with mom Deepa Mallick.
Is Rane the quietest?
Koel: He is the quietest but he loves having conversations. He is one of those people who would soak up the laughter.
Deepa: He has become the favourite jamai of Mallick Bari.
Koel: To the extent that I think I am going to lose my identity as Rane’s wife, in the house! (Laughs) We are fortunate that there are so many people who really love him. We have a big family and they are all fond of him.
Rane, what are your memories of the Mallick Bari puja ever since you have been a part of the family?
Rane: It’s emotions and sentiments first. It’s been almost 10 years now. I don’t miss out these four days.
Koel: Nothing is more important than Puja.
Rane: There is too much of an attachment... the best thing is we get to meet everyone in the family. They travel from all over the world to be here. Last two years, people couldn’t travel much, but I think we’ll meet everyone and it’s close-knit.
This frame was ‘directed’ by Koel! Rane with in-laws Ranjit and Deepa Mallick.
Ranjit uncle, tell us a bit about the history of this house...
Ranjit: Aamar thakurda’r baba came here in 1860. This Puja is 98 years old.
Deepa: It’s a cluster of houses, all interconnected.
Ranjit: When we were kids, more than 220 members used to live together.
Koel: The emotional attachment is high and there is great bonding. We start from where we kind of left off.
Ranjit: There used to be theatre and songs.
Deepa: When I got married, there were about 150 people living here.
Ranjit: We got married in 1980 and moved to Golf Club Road in 1989 and would drop in regularly. Koel has lived here till she was five. My acting career started on this Durga dalan. My father who was a lawyer had written a kobi’r larai and I was around eight when I enacted a part in it.
Koel: We are teaching one of my grandfather’s songs to Kabir... Bhaggish dim pare hashera... He knows half of it (laughs). This house has so many memories and every time we come here, somehow we go back our childhood days. During immersion, you get to see bhashan naach unique to Mallick Bari.
Deepa: Kabir is also going to wear the same outfit this year, in white.
Ranjit: Aamader thakur’er mukh ek and the same family over generations have been doing it for us. In Satyajit Ray’s Nayak, the Durga idol you see is from our house.
Koel looked divine in the yellow-fuchsia combination. The backdrop of the idol added to the beauty.
Deepa aunty, what are your memories of this house?
Deepa: Earlier there weren’t much responsibilities as the elders used to shoulder most of it. Now, I am among the seniors and there are a lot of responsibilities. I am training the next generation. Once Kabir (Koel and Rane’s son) grows up, I’ll have to teach Koel.
Koel: We have started learning pujo’r kaaj. Earlier it was all about enjoying. Boroder shamne daralei eto kaaj dito, we would vanish like Aladdin!
Koel, what has been Kabir’s reaction like till now when he is here for the Puja?
Koel: I think this year he’ll understand things a lot better. I have taught him ‘nomo nomo’ (salutation) (laughs) and he knows Om bhur bhuvah swah. I make it a point that he should be around a lot of my relatives. I am blessed to be a part of a big joint family and there are so many personalities. The world cannot be just about ‘us’. Happiness is utmost. It is my responsibility as a mother that he be a part of a happy environment, growing up with his cousins. Rane also comes from a big joint family and they are close to each other.
I have grown up with my cousins. My grandfather playing the flute, my uncle singing and me performing (Koel is trained in Odissi)... so much positivity. I am trying to inculcate that same happiness in Kabir. It is about teaching the values to the next generation.
This photoshoot was like an “examination” for Rane! And, we think he passed with flying colours! Thank you, Rane, for doing this for TT!
Koel and Rane, as the next generation, how difficult is it to keep this legacy alive?
Rane: It’s not difficult. Koel has always been like this.
Koel: There is this old charm of Kolkata that is slowly fading away. Our previous generation has shouldered the huge task of maintaining this property. Maintenance work happens throughout the year and it is a part of our responsibility (to carry it forward).
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Styling: Roy Abhisek
Hair and make-up: Prasenjit Biswas
Assisted by: Sumana Biswas
Saris: Mitan Ghosh
Koel’s blouse: Bohurupi Santiniketan
Kurtas, dhoti, churidar: Bohurupi Santiniketan
The look was festive yet sober. Koel and Deepa Mallick looked beautiful in Mitan Ghosh’s Benarasis. We paired it with traditional jewellery from Abira Jewellers. Ranjit Mallick and Raneda were in Bohurupi Santiniketan — Roy Abhisek, stylist and the man behind Bohurupi Santiniketan
I wanted to keep Koel’s look minimal. So, I gave her a high bun. I gave her strong kohl eyes and balanced it with subtle lips. For Deepa Mallick too, I have kept it simple and just gave her a bit of brown on the eyes. She loves wearing big bindis. So, we have kept that — Prasenjit Biswas, hair and make-up pro