Bengali film on treasure hunt to be released soon

Kolkata: Byomkesh-actor Abir Chatterjee will now don the hat of a treasure hunter in 'Guptodhoner Sondhane', which is claimed to be the first big Bengali film on treasure hunt, will be released this month.

Eminent Bengali directors Goutam Ghosh, Kamaleswar Mukherjee and Arindam Sil are part of the team as the director Dhrubo Banerjee said they were here to enhance the quality of the film.

Popular Bengali hero Abir Chatterjee said neither Sil, nor Ghosh nor Mukherjee carried the baggage of a film maker during the film's shoot but did not divulge how their role unfolded in the film.

"All the three portray very interesting and important characters but how that will be a surprise. All I can say they brought more layers to the film," the director said.

Chatterjee, who had also portrayed the character of iconic Bengali sleuth 'Byomkesh Bakshi' in a string of Bengali films, said, "Bengalis are losing the spirit of going on exploration for treasure hunt. The film aims at fostering that spirit of adventures in every Bengali. To my knowledge it is the first big Bengali production on embarking on adventure for hidden treasure."

Chatterjee had been cast as Byomkesh in several films including Byomkesh Pawrbo, Har Har Byomkesh, Byomkesh Phire Elo, Badshahi Angti (featuring iconic sleuth Feluda) among others.

Asked if his image as Byomkesh or Feluda will not come in the way of establishing the new role of a treasure-hunter history professor, visiting the country after seven years, Chatterjee said, "We are actors first and portray the role as demanded by the script. The audience is mature enough."

He said the film had references to the history of Bengal.

"Instead of past instances of films based on literary works, here the films will be followed by novels in print and graphic novels. We intend to start a franchise," he said.

About casting Chatterjee in the lead role, he said, "I did not seek to find similarities between his portrayal as Feluda or Byomkesh. But I liked his smart and intelligent look which can be moulded in a different way than the previous characters."

Sonada aka Subarno Sen, the protagonist in his film, may give a break from the monotony of iconic characters of Feluda and Byomkesh to the Bengali audience, he said.

'Guptodhoner Sondhane' is the first instalment of a brand new franchise being introduced by SVF, Srikant Mohta said on behalf of the producers.