Mayurakshi’s National Award generates interest, feels Atanu

Making Mayurakshi (a 2017 Bengali film) was a personal journey for director Atanu Ghosh. So, when it won a National Award for the best Bengali film at the 65th National Film Awards, the recognition became all the more special for him.

“It obviously feels good. I never expected the award. The best thing about such awards is that it generates a lot of interest around the film. Those who would have otherwise skipped watching the film might give a second thought [now]. And when it goes on online streaming platforms, I am hoping many [more people] will watch the film. We make films for audience, so the more people enjoy the film, the more our purpose is served, as artists,” says Atanu, who has made films such as Angshumaner Chhobi (2009), Takhan Teish (2010) and Abby Sen (2015), and had worked with Radhika Apte in Rupkatha Noy (2013).

Mayurakshi highlights what happens when a person is diagnosed with dementia and how the illness affects him and his family. Actors Soumitra Chatterjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee play the role of father and son in the film, respectively. “When the film was screened in Bangalore, a man walked up to me and said that his wife suffered from the same disease and died five months before the film released. He felt that the film had a healing experience,” says Atanu.

Atanu’s father, late Satyendra Nath Ghosh, a professor in Applied Physics, suffered from dementia. The filmmaker remembers how his father got confined first to the house, then his room and finally to his bed. “He even did not recognise me one day,” recounts Atanu, adding, “I saw him dipping his ball pen in a glass of water. And he said, he is dipping his ink pen in the ink pot.”

Interestingly, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who was in the jury panel of National Award this year, had said that films such as Mayurakshi should be promoted and sent to prestigious festivals like Cannes. Touched by his comment, Atanu says, “I am thankful. It means a lot that the film could connect with people like him.” He plans to send the film to international film festivals.

“The first will be New York Indian Film Festival in May,” he reveals.

Those who would have otherwise skipped watching the film might give a second thought [now, after the award]. The more people enjoy the film, the more our purpose is served, as artists

ATANU GHOSH DIRECTOR

A still from Mayurakshi, in which Soumitra Chatterjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee play the role of father and son

Director Atanu Ghosh’s 2017 film (left) was recognised as the best Bengali film at the 65th National Film Awards