Blessy on calcutta news

Blessy, the director who shot to popularity with his very first film Kaazhcha, and followed it up with two other hits Thanmathra and Palunku, is busy making his fourth film Calcutta News. Produced by Thampy Antony under the banner of Kayal Films, Calcutta News has Dileep and Meera Jasmine playing the lead roles, along with an impressive array of artists.

The film has completed its first schedule in Kolkata and now is on to the next schedule, which is in progress in Kochi. Blessy, in a brief interview given to Unni Nair of nowrunning.com, speaks about the film and its salient features. Excerpts:

Tell us about the theme of Calcutta News?

Calcutta News takes us into the life of a television programme producer and a reporter named Ajith, living in Kolkata. The film zooms in on the happenings that take place in the span of one year in the life of this character. In the course of his work he comes into contact with a young girl named Krishnapriya under rather strange circumstances. What happens after that forms the plot of Calcutta News.

How different if Calcutta News from your earlier films?

Each of my films has been different from the others. Calcutta News is even more different as it's not a family drama at all. It's a love story with a difference and there is also a suspense element in it. The film attempts a sensitive portrayal of a very relevant theme and the backdrop too is different as the entire action takes place in Kolkata. We have very different visuals in Calcutta News compared to my earlier films, most of which were centered around Kerala.

Tell us about the character played by Dileep?

Dileep plays Ajith Thomas, the lead character. Ajith, born and brought up in Kolkata, is the son of a former footballer and is now working as a television journalist - a TV programme producer-cum-reporter. As I said earlier, he happens to meet a young girl called Krishnapriya in the course of his work and that leads to some startling developments. As for the character of Ajith Thomas, he is a mature person who very sensibly tackles the rather unusual developments that take place in his life with the entry of Krishnapriya. There is another side to Ajith's personality too. He is someone who loves his family and is also a very lovable kind of guy.

What about the character played by Meera Jasmine?

Meera's character - that of Krishnapriya - has a very significant role to play in the development of the plot. It is with the entry of Krishnapriya that things take a turn in Ajith's life and the story takes off. Krishnapriya has an air of mystery around her and the helplessness that is tagged to her makes her character stand out. This music-loving girl had moved to Kolkata with her husband and it is then that things take a turn in her life. And when these developments in Krishnapriya's life cross lines with Ajith Thomas' life, the story of the film develops to the building of a very striking climax. Meera's character is central to the theme of the film.

Are film lovers in Kerala are going to get a chance to see Kolkata in all its splendour in your film?

We have tried to capture the grandeur and beauty of Kolkata as effectively as possible. This perhaps would be the first film in Malayalam to be shot so extensively in Kolkata. The backdrop for the whole film is Kolkata and we have tried our best to bring in the cultural ethos of the city to the full. Cinematographer S. Kumar has come up with some stunning visuals shot in Kolkata and all this would contribute to the visual richness of the film as a whole.

How important in music in Calcutta News, especially since you have roped in someone like Debjyothi Misra to do the music?

Along with a Malayalee flavour, the music of Calcutta News also has in it elements from Hindustani music as well as typical Bengali music. Music has a very important role in the development of the plot as far as Calcutta News is considered. And since the film is set in Kolkata, it was absolutely necessary to bring in someone like Debjyothi Misra who, as you all know, is a protégé of the legendary Salil Chowdhary whom Malayalees have held close to their hearts for years. I have absolutely no doubt that Debjyothi Misra's music in Calcutta News will uphold that tradition and continue the legacy. Click the Movie button below for more info:
Calcutta news