Editor's Choice
Interview with Subhrajit Mitra : Devi Chowdhurani…Bandit Queen of Bengal
Subhrajit Mitra‘s creative odyssey has been a tapestry woven with passion, learning, and an unwavering commitment to his vision. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the mind of Subhrajit Mitra, unraveling the intricacies of his creative process, the inspiration that fuels his stories, and the upcoming cinematic film that promises to captivate audiences worldwide. Join us as we venture into the heart of cinematic artistry with a director whose narratives resonate beyond the screen.
About You and Your background ? Lets begin days when you were aspiring to be , Days When you became what you are , professional upgrades in your journey?
I have completed my bachelors degree in Computer science and Engineering from a premier university of India. After that I have done a certificate course in ancient Classical literature from the Harvard University and got my Honorary Doctorate in Literature from a reputed university of South India. I used to make documentaries for Government of India [ Defence and Home ministry ] and also for National Geographic Channel, Discovery and History Channel. I have learned the process of film making all by myself. Studying extensively in American ,British, German and Russian libraries and watching world classics in theatres and film festivals. I aspired to be a director, when I was 13/14 years old, after watching E.T. by Steven Spielberg in a theatre and pursued my dream ever since.
How do you convince yourself with things that you have to shoot for a film but you actually don’t otherwise believe?
I don’t shoot anything which I don’t believe in. simple, period. I am extremely choosy and strict about this from the very beginning. Absolutely no compromise, whatsoever.
Your Scripting Process ? Your approach to casting ?
I prefer classical literatures with historical background. Making period pieces gives the opportunity to research, to recreate the history which is fascinating. First if any classic literature appeals me, I start researching on the time period , the customs, the political and social scenario, the attires and many more detailed aspects. Then I study other notable literature and biographies of the noted personalities of that same time period for cross referencing and to incorporate that in my screenplay. And then I write the script organically. And I still use fountain pen to write a script rather than a computer as I prefer the human touch more.
Casting is very intuitive and organic process for me from the scripting stage itself.
How much does your life influences your story telling and the characters that you bring to life ?
To some extent, I try to incorporate my philosophical thoughts in the dialogues. I choose only those stories which is appealing to me personally, which I want to tell in the big screen.
How do you work on yourself to become better in your field learning, observing, reading ?
I am voracious reader. And I watch movies a lot. mainly films based on literatures. That’s the way I continuously upgrade myself.
Filmmaking is team work. Tell us about your team and what sort of pre planning gets done before you decide to make a film. Tough things about making films and what keeps you going despite those tough things ?
I choose my team according to the genre and subjects. If that means repeating someone, I don’t mind. But since I am working in the industry for quite sometime and best of the technicians and actors are all my friends, it’s easy to pick and choose for each individual project. They are all available for me as per my requirements. The kind of film I make, I do all the research, I choose the subject and the story, I write the screenplay, I do the production designing and I also Direct. So it takes longer than usual as I spearhead all these departments all by myself [ I have assistants in production design and directorial department only, and it’s by choice . But I enjoy the entire process. I don’t find it tough. Only the budget and finance factors are stressful for me, not the creative aspects.
Title Of Your New Release
Devi Chowdhurani…Bandit Queen of Bengal
What is the central theme of film ?
I was studying and researching on the Battle of Plassey, Battle of Buxar, The Great Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Sanyasi and Fakir Rebellion which spans across this era. Off course this includes the advent and invasion of the British East India Company in India in it’s early years. Co-incidentally “Anandamath” and “Devi Chowdhurani” by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay are based on the similar timescale where I find the latter is more appealing in terms of a Film. It narrates a journey of a simple village girl who eventually becomes the first Indian woman freedom fighter, historically, against the colonial rule in India in the later part of the 18th century.
I felt this story through my cinematic interpretation would be my humble homage to my Motherland in her 75th year of independence. It also tells the story of the Hindu ascetic monks who had no other option but to take up arms against the British colonial rules to save the country and her people. It was the first armed revolution by the Indians , led by Bhavani Charan Pathak, against the British East India Company. I only had to adapt the storyline into the alternative historical interpretation.
The basic plotline remains the same but almost 80% of the film is closer to the actual history, rather than the novel. It is built on the premise of “what might have actually happened”. Even Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the novel almost after a 100 year of the original incidents. I had to study extensively from the archives of East India Company in London, several texts and manuscripts from Asiatic society, British Library, Victoria Memorial and Indian Museum.
how many days it took you to shoot ? What locations it has been shot at ?
We have planned for a shoot of close to 60 days. The film will be extensively shoot in various locations across West Bengal named Purulia, Kolkata & Bolpur.
Share your thoughts about production process . Any interesting trivia about its making ?
“Devi Chowdhurani” [ Bandit Queen of Bengal ], gives me the opportunity to get me out of my comfort zone. It is much bigger canvas than my last film, it is actually a part of our lesser known history. After winning my National award for my last film “Avijatrik” [ The Wanderlust of Apu ], I wanted to tell this story, the urge was intense. I wanted to make a very realistic film on this novel and the time period which portrays a plausible historical reconstruction. I am fascinated by the films of similar genre by the master directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Ridley Scott. The seven samurai, Roshomon, Ran, Throne of blood, Gladiator, Robinhood to name a few.
What platforms will the film be released? Date of release?
The film will be released in Autumn 2024 and will be available globally across various leading platform as well as wide theatrical release.
Any other project you are working on ? Some details about the film ?
There are few others but right now my entire concentration is on Devi Chowdhurani. One project at a time.
How do you deal with Negative Feedbacks ? How do you stay balanced with Positive Feedback ?
I am my biggest critic. Despite winning several prestigious international and national awards, including the highest film award from the Government of India, from the President herself, I still consider myself a student. I have achieved only 40% of my full potential. I read and listen to all feedbacks, negative and positive. And then delete all those from my mind. To me film making is a lonesome, organic process.
How did you hear about CarryOnHarry ? Any message for Studio? Any Suggestion that we can make it better?
Heard about it from my friends in Hollywood. You are doing great stuff and pls keep helping independent filmmakers like us to have our voices and creativity heard in mainstream media.
IMDB Link
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3392438/?ref_=tt_ov_dr
Facebook Handle
https://www.facebook.com/subhrajit.mitra.18
Twitter Handle
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Editor's Choice
Naseeruddin Shah Speaks Out: Veteran Actor Condemns Violence, Backs Students in NEET Controversy
Naseeruddin Shah Speaks Out: Veteran Actor Condemns Violence, Backs Students in NEET Controversy
Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah has made his position crystal clear amid the escalating controversy surrounding the Chalo Sansad march at Jantar Mantar, publicly denouncing those who unleashed violence on demonstrating students.
Shah pulled no punches in his condemnation, labelling the individuals responsible for the attacks as nothing short of thugs, while firmly expressing his support for the student community protesting against the alleged NEET examination paper leak scandal.
The actor’s statements come in the wake of a misleading video that spread rapidly across social media, purportedly showing Shah at the demonstration site. Sources reveal the footage was actually captured at an entirely separate event — a film screening held in Mumbai — with no connection to the Delhi protests whatsoever.
Meanwhile, the unrest has refused to stay contained within the capital. Entertainment circles and observers note that demonstrations have now rippled outward, with students taking their grievances to the streets of Mumbai as well.
Authorities in the city have responded swiftly, according to insiders, implementing restrictions on public gatherings as tensions continue to simmer across the nation over the examination integrity scandal.
The NEET controversy has ignited a fierce national conversation about fairness in India’s high-stakes academic examination system, with students and public figures alike demanding accountability from those in charge.
Shah’s vocal stance adds a prominent cultural voice to what has become one of the most charged student-driven movements in recent memory, with insiders suggesting his words have further amplified the conversation around justice for the affected candidates.
Harry’s Take
Distance doesn’t necessarily dilute solidarity — but in this case, it does complicate it. Shah’s condemnation carries moral weight, yet the viral video confusion inadvertently made his physical absence the story, which risks overshadowing the substance of what he actually said. A statement made from the sidelines, however sincerely meant, invites the question of whether cultural figures in India are prepared to put presence behind their principles when the moment demands it.
Editor’s Verdict
Naseeruddin Shah’s intervention here is significant, but the viral video mishap is the more instructive story. When misinformation positions someone at a protest they never attended, the clarification inevitably becomes louder than the cause itself — and that is a genuine problem for movements that rely on celebrity solidarity to sustain public attention. Shah’s words carry earned credibility; few voices in Indian cinema have maintained that kind of consistent moral clarity over decades. But the episode quietly exposes how fragile that solidarity can appear in the social media age, where a mislabelled clip can simultaneously amplify and undermine a public figure’s standing within hours. Students fighting a legitimate battle over examination integrity deserve more than complicated news cycles about who was or wasn’t where. Beyond the headlines, when the messenger becomes the story, the message has already lost ground it may struggle to recover.
Studio Ki Raye
Naseeruddin Shah ka NEET par bayan aana — yeh Bollywood ka ek jaana-pehchaana pattern hai. Jab bhi koi bada student ya social movement uthta hai, kuch selective voices saamne aati hain, baaki industry khamosh rehti hai. Lekin asli sawaal yeh hai ki Shah ka bayan ek fake viral video ke *response* mein zyada clearly define hua — matlab unhe apni position isliye explain karni padi kyunki social media ne pehle unhe wahan “place” kar diya. Yeh solidarity hai ya damage control? Dono ke beech ki line Bollywood mein hamesha blurry rehti hai. Aur jab tak industry ka sirf ek-do percent hi bolega, baaki chuppe rahenge — toh cultural weight kitna meaningful hai, yeh sochne wali baat hai.
- Entertainment Desk, Studio Carry On Harry
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Vijay’s Political Swan Song Sets Box Office Ablaze With Massive Pre-Sales
Thalapathy Vijay is heading into his final cinematic chapter with a bang. His much-anticipated action drama *Jana Nayagan* has stormed advance booking charts, pulling in close to Rs 14.94 crore in pre-sales nationwide ahead of its theatrical debut.
Tamil Nadu is spearheading the ticketing frenzy, with Chennai emerging as a particularly dominant force in occupancy numbers, according to insiders. The response signals an enormous appetite among fans eager to witness the superstar’s farewell performance on the big screen.
Entertainment circles suggest the film carries considerable thematic weight, with its director steering the narrative toward ideals of unity and democratic values rather than conventional mass-entertainer fare. Sources reveal the creative team has been deliberate in crafting a story that resonates beyond pure spectacle.
The stakes surrounding *Jana Nayagan* extend well beyond typical box office competition. Industry insiders confirm this project is widely understood to be Vijay’s final film before he steps away from cinema altogether to pursue a full-time political career — a transition that has captivated both fans and observers across South India.
Critics note that the combination of a star-driven farewell, strong pre-release buzz, and a socially charged storyline creates a rare cinematic event that transcends the usual release cycle. Whether the film meets its towering expectations at the box office remains to be seen, but the advance numbers suggest audiences are already voting with their wallets.
– Entertainment Desk, Studio Carry On Harry
Harry’s Take
The tension here is real: Vijay’s farewell leverage is greatest right now, at peak sentimental value, yet Vinoth is spending that leverage on a civics lesson rather than a crowd-pleasing spectacle. That’s either a genuinely bold artistic bet or a miscalculation — because audiences voting with pre-sale wallets are buying the star’s exit, not necessarily the ideology attached to it. Whether the film can hold that theatrical momentum past opening weekend will be the real verdict on whether the thematic ambition helped or hurt.
Editor’s Verdict
The Rs 14.94 crore advance is impressive, but the more interesting story here is what it actually represents — a superstar essentially using his final film as a public manifesto before entering politics. That is an almost unprecedented convergence of cinema and political ambition in modern Indian entertainment, and it changes how audiences experience the film before they’ve even seen a single frame. The thematic pivot toward unity and democratic values isn’t incidental — it reads like a calculated statement of intent, a trailer for the politician as much as the actor. Whether the film sustains that weight across its full runtime, or whether the mass-entertainer instincts eventually override the message, will determine whether this farewell is remembered as cinema or simply as campaign material. Beyond the headlines, when a superstar’s last scene doubles as his political opening act, the audience isn’t just buying a ticket — they’re casting an early vote.
Studio Ki Raye
Vijay ka yeh farewell film sirf ek superstar ka last release nahi hai — yeh ek carefully orchestrated political launchpad hai. Rs 14.94 crore ka pre-sales number impressive zaroor hai, lekin asli baat yeh hai ki “unity aur democratic values” wali theming coincidence nahi lagti jab aap jaante hain ki yeh aadmi seedha politics mein jaane wala hai. Yeh film basically unka manifesto hai — cinematic packaging mein. Fans ticket khareed rahe hain farewell ke liye, lekin director aur Vijay dono ek future voter base nurture kar rahe hain. South Indian politics mein yeh playbook naya nahi hai — MGR ne bhi yahi kiya tha — lekin jis scale par yeh narrative build ho rahi hai, woh batata hai ki Vijay ka political team cinema ko apna sabse bada campaign tool maanta hai.
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