A mellow brew of then and now

Iprefer places that are steeped in history or cultural heritage. Being a non-resident Bengali, Kolkata remains my favourite haunt, where I always find myself a wide-eyed tourist, gazing at its historical monuments. In Kolkata, one can find a perfect co-existence of old-world charm and contemporary slickness. The past and present have been well-brewed and blended in peaceful harmony to enable it to settle on the city’s time-tested face and lend it a cosmopolitan look.

The City of Joy is also known as the city of palaces and massive mansions. The aristocratic havelis and royal households like the Shovabazar Rajbari, Jorashanko Thakurbari or the 19th- century Marble Palace are a revealing treat to one’s eyes and are still considered unmatched, like other centuries-old cities across the world. The intricate carvings, designed columns, spacious porticoes, oil paintings on the walls, interior decor and opulent furnishings simply blow my mind and transport me to a different era altogether.

As a filmmaker, I feel an invariable thirst to carry along my camera one fine day and reel good shots for a period project.

The only way to get the best out of a place is to mingle with its local populace and get soaked in its indigenous essence like an absorbent sponge. That’s the secret of a satisfying holiday! Sujoy Ghosh is a director

As told to Santanu Chowdhury