Piku Bhalo Achhey (Piku Is Fine) was my first experimental venture to make a film, as a medical student with no experience in film making ever! All that I had as resources were a bunch of lovely college buddies, and a handycam!
Synopsis:
The film deals with the journey of a young gay boy towards self acceptance.
Story, Script & Direction: Tirthankar Guha Thakurta
Cinematography: Sayak Ghatak
Asst. Director: Sayantan Dasgupta
Playback: Arunima kisku, Gargi Ganguli
Film review by The Telegraph: (Nisha Lahiri)
It was a moment's decision, but based on a lifetime of experiences. For Tirthankar Guha Thakurta, making the film Piku Bhalo Aachhey (Piku Is Fine) was meant to pass the time between the end of exams and the start of classes. But the theme of homosexuality turned the film into a vehicle of change.
In 2004, the student of Calcutta National Medical College got together some friends who decided making a film would be a useful way to fill the time gap. What began with about five expanded to a group of 22 friends and family members. After a shooting schedule of about four-and-a-half days spread over a month, Piku Bhalo Aachhey was born.
"I chose the theme from my own experience, because I thought the LGBT (lesbi
an, gay, bisexual and transgender) issue was important, to highlight the problems faced by these people and to dispel misconceptions in society", says the final-year medical student.
The film making was the result of a concerted effort (story, script and direction, as well as playing the lead role of Piku, was Tirthankar). Cinematographer Sayak Ghosh used his handycam to shoot the film, one of the lead actors, Anirban Ghosh, offered his home as the set while assistant director Sayantan Das Gupta, like everyone else, did a bit of everything.
In 2004, the student of Calcutta National Medical College got together some friends who decided making a film would be a useful way to fill the time gap. What began with about five expanded to a group of 22 friends and family members. After a shooting schedule of about four-and-a-half days spread over a month, Piku Bhalo Aachhey was born.
"I chose the theme from my own experience, because I thought the LGBT (lesbi
an, gay, bisexual and transgender) issue was important, to highlight the problems faced by these people and to dispel misconceptions in society", says the final-year medical student.The film making was the result of a concerted effort (story, script and direction, as well as playing the lead role of Piku, was Tirthankar). Cinematographer Sayak Ghosh used his handycam to shoot the film, one of the lead actors, Anirban Ghosh, offered his home as the set while assistant director Sayantan Das Gupta, like everyone else, did a bit of everything.
A still from Piku Bhalo achhey
with Piku( Tirthankar) and Neel (Sayantan)
"It was a group effort. Only the editing was done in a studio. We couldn't find someone willing to play Piku?s mother, so my mother did it," Tirthankar smiles. The hardest part, he confesses, was writing the script.
The story is about a student who is ridiculed and harassed by his college mates because of his homosexuality, while his family can't fathom the concept when he comes out. It debuted in June last year at the 2nd International Conference on Masculinity, Sexuality and Culture in South Asia in Bangalore. Since, it has been screened at the Siddhartha Gautam Film Festival organised by SAATHII in Calcutta for the past two years as well as numerous events on LGBT and HIV/AIDS in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.
"At first, I was apprehensive about the reception the film would receive. The true test was at the 10th Kolkata Film Festival at Nandan in December, because this was open to the public, where people already sensitised and aware of the issue weren't the only ones watching. There were even children at the screening. Initially, the audience laughed at Piku and understood the sentiments of those who harassed him. Towards the end, several sympathised with Piku. Many of them spoke to me afterwards, saying they were touched. That, for me, was the best experience", says the 22-year-old.
Although Tirthankar is reluctant to speak about his forthcoming project, which he has already started on, there are several issues he wants to address, like friendships between homosexual and heterosexual men, bisexuality and child rights. "I have received great support from Calcutta audiences and the media", he signs off.
Screenings:
The film ‘Piku Bhalo Achhey’ (Piku is fine) which was made with my friends as a second
year medical student, received critical acclaim in various film festival around the world (2nd ICMSC, Bangalore; 10th Kolkata International Film Festival [Short Film section]; Alliance Françoise, Chennai; SGFF 2005 and 2007, Kolkata; etc) and at various workshops and conferences (Bangkok, Brighton, Bombay, Kolkata, etc).
year medical student, received critical acclaim in various film festival around the world (2nd ICMSC, Bangalore; 10th Kolkata International Film Festival [Short Film section]; Alliance Françoise, Chennai; SGFF 2005 and 2007, Kolkata; etc) and at various workshops and conferences (Bangkok, Brighton, Bombay, Kolkata, etc).Tirthankar Guha Thakurta (right) and Anupam Hazra from SAATHII Calcutta prior to the screening of "Piku Bhalo Aachhey" (Piku Is Fine) at the 2nd International Conference on Masculinities, Sexualities and Culture in South Asia,
held from June 9 to 13, 2004, at Bangalore.
Picture: Pawan Dhall
Media reviews:
Reviews on the film can be read by kindly visiting the following media links:
http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com/msg02288.html
http://gaybombay.org/event/film_fest_may_05.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1114727.cms
http://gaybombay.org/event/film_fest_may_05.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1114727.cms
Contact info:
For any details about the film, kindly contact the director at: tirthankar82@yahoo.co.in
1 comment:
kothay pabo tare????
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