ANKKIT SENGUPTA
Ankkit Sengupta is a young budding filmmaker from Siliguri. He was one of the house hold names among the street magicians in the audio visual circuit few years ago and has performed many shows on screen starting from CCN Binodan, High TV (ground TV channels) to Aakash Bangla. He now dons the cap as an Assistant Director in Tollywood and also is being involved in many AV ventures of Tollywood. Here is some of the excerpts of his feelings about his career and his future prospects.
SILIGURI 007: You have been a street magician in your childhood, it has raised much fame to your credit in Bengal, then what made to shift from playing a magician to a filmmaker?
AS: I believe there is a lot of magic in making a film. Every good film maker is a magician. So magic has been there with me always. I will try to add magic to the films i make. The bottom line is "entertainment" . When I performed magic, i entertained my spectators. When i make films, i keep the same word in mind. It is true that performing magic for Aakaash Bangla has given me fame. Lot of events, shows, episodes for High TV followed after that. Obviously it feels good. Every performer wants to be popular. So did I. But i feel film making is my calling. If i fail at it, i wouldn't mind. I cannot be lucky every time but at least i can try what my heart tells me to. All i need now is good wishes !! Lets hope for the best.
SILIGURI 007: Tell us something about your magical days from Don Bosco to Aakash Bangla.
AS: All i miss about Don Bosco is its auditorium. Every time i was there on the stage, i felt like wow. I had a theater group named "Chewing gum Boyz" and we used to put up comedy skits on every occasion. I used to write and direct slapstick comedy skits. Teachers encouraged me a lot. When i was in class seven i had made up my mind to be a part of the entertainment industry for ever.
There was an online audition where they were looking for a fresh face to represent Bengal street magic after P.C Sorcar (pouroosh) on Aakash Bangla. I had applied and to cut it short, i anchored 75 successful episodes for the channel thereafter.
SILIGURI 007: You are also one of those who left Siliguri for betterment. What do you feel about your decision?
AS: I left Siliguri since Kolkata offered me a better exposure. I cannot deny the fact that CCN Binodan (ground channel in siliguri) offered me shows in the very begining of my career. I am ever grateful to them. I have great love for siliguri but shifting to Kolkata is a fair decession on my side. I am working on a few Kolkata based film projects recently so it would be quite impossible for me to work had I not shifted to Kolkata.
SILIGURI 007: How is Tollywood's behaviour towards Siliguri's Film directors?
AS: Its completely fine. What matters is your thoughts. Where you belong to hardly matters. If my thoughts and films are saleable, the producers will never ask me where is my home town. I feel Tollywood loves Siliguri and that is the reason why shooting units pay a visit often to Siliguri. Recently we had gone to a place named Bodagunj, not very far from Siliguri, and the whole shooting unit had asked me to look for a farmhouse there where they would settle for ever and never return to Kolkata.
SILIGURI 007: Is there any possibilities of making any venture based on Siliguri?
AS: Yes there is. Siliguri is a beautiful place. If not completely based on Siliguri, "Siliguri" has often been mentioned and been the location in Tollywood stories.
SILIGURI 007: Since, we can guess you are one of the most youngest directors in tollywood, how do you feel being infront of the camera and behind it?
AS: I enjoy being in front of the camera. Performing magic infront of the camera is not an easy job. Its hard to misdirect the camera. The camera records every move you do and makes it difficult to dodge the same. You have to be a star while you are performing and the job is to entertain the audience by any means. You can talk of Pamela Anderson or you can even talk about the size of your dick as long as you connect to your audience. I personally do it and i love every frame i face the camera. When you walk down the streets people recognize you. They ask for your autographs. I will always cherish it.
Being behind the camera makes me feel like God. Makes me feel like a creator. It gives me a feeling that the mise-en-scene is the result of my creativity. Even if a character sneezes or farts in a shot it is my direction, my creation. One will never find that scene, that character else where in the world. I love film making. Though I have just started learning the basics and working as assistants, i strongly believe that i can create. I am ever thankful to a few people, to my father Uday Sengupta, to Supriyo Ghosh (Founder of Choto Parda), Diptajit Deb(film maker), Arunava Khasnobis (film maker) and to my KFTI faculties for guiding me and being there always !!
SILIGURI 007: Most Tollywood directors often view Siliguri as a transit camp for film production, What is your opinion about such viewpoints?
AS: Siliguri indeed has great potential. There are entrepreneurs in Siliguri who are willing to invest in films. Once they identify their target audience and get good returns from their investments they will definitely invest. There are loop holes and barriers though. The size of the market is a huge hindrance. As far as i know films are being made in Siliguri. Abhijit da (RJ Abhijit, High fm) has just completed a full length feature. Someone has to start. I strongly believe films can be made any where. During the times of Neo realism, directors shot films in their natural surroundings.The boy next door played the lead, and the streets nearby were the sets for the films. It just needs time . Siliguri will definately catch up. I personally know a few production houses based in Siliguri who are working with Sandip Ray, Anjan Dutta and others. Good things take some time to happen. We hope that Lights Camera and Action will soon echo in the heart of Siliguri !!
Impressive!!
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