Showing posts with label Chandan Roy Sanyal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chandan Roy Sanyal. Show all posts
Chandan Roy Sanyal on Maha Kumbh: "I saw countless people walking for miles, carrying their kids on their shoulders"
8:42 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 18, 2025)
Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal was in Lucknow for an event when he received an invitation from the organizers to visit the ongoing Maha Kumbh. He calls it ‘divine intervention’ that the trip came together so seamlessly. “Yeh sab cheezein apne aap ho jaati hain. Mujhe bulawa aaya, toh main aa gaya idhar!” he shares, recalling how he reached on February 10 and stayed for five days.
Experiencing the Kumbh for the first time, he was awestruck by the sheer scale of the event: “Millions of people were there. I was privileged because I got to fly in, was received at the airport, and stayed at a hotel near the ghat. But I saw countless people walking for miles, carrying their kids on their shoulders. It shows the depth of their faith.”
The recent stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which reportedly claimed over 30 lives, left many in shock. Expressing his sorrow, Chandan says, “It’s heartbreaking... I can’t even imagine.” However, he adds that the tragedy didn’t deter him from attending the Kumbh. “I wasn’t apprehensive about going there,” he clarifies.
Hailing from a deeply religious family, Chandan shares how spirituality has been a significant part of his life. “My mother is very religious, my father was too. I brought gangajal for my mother.”
Ashutosh Gowariker turns presenter for Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Bengali period drama Binodiini - Ekti Natir Upakhyan
8:34 AM
Ashutosh Gowariker backs filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee to make his Bengali period drama accessible to a pan-India audience
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 13, 2025)
Inspired by National Award-winning director Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s Bengali period drama Binodiini - Ekti Natir Upakhyan, filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has decided to come onboard as presenter. The Jodha Akbar (2008) filmmaker, who caught Mukherjee’s film at a private screening in Mumbai, says he was egged on to give a boost to the kind of regional cinema that the latter was crafting.
Asserting that presenting stories from across India benefits individuals of every generation, Gowariker says, “Bringing to the big screen the magic of what transpired in Bengal’s theatres during their golden era is beneficial for every generation. Ram Kamal Mukherjee needs to be praised. His direction is poignant and adds depth and sensitivity to theatre thespian Binodini Dasi’s remarkable life. I’m glad that Ram Kamal did not succumb to what the market dictates while narrating this epic. It is pure.” Heaping praise on actor Rukmini Maitra’s portrayal of Binodini, he calls the film a “heartfelt tribute to the legacy of Indian theatre and its unsung heroes.”
Mukherjee is grateful for Gowariker’s unwavering support and adds that as presenter, the latter may host a “special screening in Mumbai after the national release of the film on January 24.”
Backed by Bengal actor Dev Adhikari and Prateek Chakravorty, the movie also stars Rahul Bose and Chandan Roy Sanyal. It tells the story of Binodini Dasi, a young girl from Kolkata’s red light area, who achieves immense fame as a theatre artiste.
Now we aren’t making movies that can become classics. We’re just wound up in numbers-Aahana Kumra
8:19 AM
Sundas Jawed (BOMBAY TIMES; June 9, 2024)
Actress Aahana Kumra is known for her out-of-the-box choices when it comes to films and speaking her mind. The Lipstick Under My Burkha and Khuda Haafiz actress was in Kolkata on Saturday and did touristy things in the city. CT caught up with her about her impromptu visit, her love for theatre, films and more. Excerpts.
The city as an inspiration
Aahana had posted her Kolkata pictures with a caption quoting Amitabh Bachchan ‘if one needs inspiration, one should come to Kolkata’.
“The simplicity of the city really inspires me,” said the India Lockdown actress. “I have many friends here and just love the city. The beauty of Kolkata also lies in the fact that the city never changes, I have been coming here for 20 years now,” she said. Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal, who is shooting in Kolkata invited her over.
“He invited me to have lunch with him and Tony da (Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury), said the actress. “Everyone from the set of their next movie was there too. I loved the fact that the food I had on set was home cooked,” said Aahana who enjoyed a hearty meal of Kolkata-style fish and mutton on set.
Indian cinema and the need to tell our own heartland stories
“Many big films don’t work because the Indian audience has become very smart now, they want fresh and original content and cannot be fooled,” said Kumra, adding, “We have a lot of stories to tell, we just need to look into our periphery and not imitate the West. We need to make more heartland movies and Bengali cinema is doing that. It is the everyday stories that people connect with. If we look at India’s feat at the Cannes, it is these stories that made it to the global platform."
‘Theatre is like life, with no second chances’
“Both theatre and movies have given me immense love and an understanding of my profession. Theatre is just like life, it doesn’t give you a second chance. But then it is also about how you accept, adapt and move on. Theatre also helps you connect with the audience. Kolkata has the best audience I have ever seen in my life.”
The beauty of Bengali classics
Aahana believes, the beauty of cinema lies in its simplicity, and Satyajit Ray and other Bengali filmmakers aced this art. “When at film school, I watched the Apu trilogy and was awe struck by the simplicity of the film and Ray. Charulata, Aparajito, are stories that stay with you,” said Kumra, adding, “Now we aren’t making movies that can become classics. We’re just wound up in numbers.”
Shopping and food in Kolkata
“My Kolkata visit happened under funny circumstances. I was shooting in Goa and was supposed to be here for a play but the play got cancelled last minute but I decided to come down anyway as I love being in the city,” she said.
Like a true tourist, the actress loves all things Kolkata, heritage eateries included. “I love being on Park Street because of Mocambo and Peter Cat there. I love Chelo kebab. I went sari shopping and love the handloom here,” she added.
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“I went to Kalighat on Saturday afternoon. It was raining that time and it felt so good and peaceful”
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“I’d love to work with Shoojit Sircar & Tony da. I’d have loved to work with Pradeep Sarkar but sadly that cannot happen. Films like Parineeta aren’t made everyday”
I would try to steal money from my father’s pocket to go and watch Raveena Tandon's film-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:16 AM
From watching Mohra as a kid to sharing screen space with Raveena in Patna Shuklla, Chandan on how the courtroom drama gave him a fanboy moment
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; March 21, 2024)
When director Vivek Budakoti offered Patna Shuklla to Chandan Roy Sanyal, the actor noticed that his role was not an archetypal villain. In the courtroom drama about education scam, Sanyal plays a confident defense counsel locking horns with Raveena Tandon’s small-time lawyer.
“Vivek sir said he wanted someone to bring gravitas to the character. He didn’t want me to play the role like a villain; that attracted me to the part. I kept it human and argumentative,” says Sanyal.
Besides an interesting character, the Disney+ Hotstar courtroom drama offered the actor something he hadn’t imagined in his wildest dreams—a fanboy moment with Tandon.
“Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor were among the icons when I was growing up. I watched Mohra [1994] in the theatre, bought an audio cassette of Patthar Ke Phool [1991]. I would try to steal money from my father’s pocket to go and watch her film. Then suddenly, I was standing in front of her. I not only was acting with her, but also earned her praise at the end of the shoot. Life keeps throwing beautiful surprises at us,” he beams.
Sanyal has no qualms admitting that he was “awestruck” when he saw Tandon for the first time on set. “It was her good nature and humility because of which the scenes turned out so nice. She graciously invited me to her place for dinner and introduced me to her family and friends.”
Makers focus on songs that play a role in marketing instead of those that take a story forward-Abbas Tyrewala
8:16 AM
Accompanied by Chandan and Abbas while discussing The Playback Singer, composer Mohan on his tryst to find a singer who could convincingly trace the protagonist’s journey from being a novice to a skilled musician
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; May 15, 2023)
In what may best be termed as a glimpse into the collaborative conversations that take place within the studio as they join hands for The Playback Singer, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Mohan Kanan and Abbas Tyrewala pique curiosity with the promise of transporting us back to the ’90s as they narrate a tale of music and ambition.
In this interview, they discuss the making of the project that promises to present a musical that film aficionados will remember.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
Chandan, you’ve stated in past interviews that you believe the genre of romantic musicals has gone amiss. What do you think has gone wrong?
Chandan: I wouldn’t say anything has particularly gone wrong. When I was growing up in the ’90s, and wasn’t exposed to world cinema, my father would listen to music by [Mohammed] Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Manna Dey. It was always about music, and story-telling through music. If the music isn’t good, audience members would sneak out for a smoke, return and say that they couldn’t comprehend the film. That [magic] is now missing. Now, it’s all about collaborations. You never have two hands come together to take a story forward, in the way that Mohan and Abbas have come together. It’s all about understanding what the character feels, and how they take the story forward.
Mohan, as a musician, you would probably have an opinion on the best way to approach a musical?
Mohan: Chandan had involved me in the production work right from the beginning; it has been six years now. Abbas and I have worked together in different capacities; as co-musicians and a director [and composer] too. In this film, the storytelling goes ahead with music. We are back to lip-syncing. Casting a singer has become important, like it was in the past. For instance, if Kishore Kumar sang a song for an actor, it appeared that that voice belonged to that actor.
Chandan: When Mohan would explain [a song] to the singer, I could see him help them understand its emotion. A singer may be skilled, but to help them find the voice of the character is a different process. That’s what you will get to see in this film. The characters blend with the music, which blends with the story, and the film.
What was the difference in your approach to creating music for the ’90s?
Mohan: In ’92, cassettes were on the way out, and CDs were in. In the ’80s, people started to record singers and musicians separately. That was a change that began to happen. Also, A R Rahman entered the industry then, and changed its soundscape. With Roja, not only did he introduce a distinct south Indian flavour to music, but there was a difference in the production too. For me, this was exciting. I’d keep telling Chandan that [we could divide the music of the film] into pre and post Rahman. That was an idea I held in my mind. I was excited to show such a varied soundscape.
To highlight my point further, I’d discuss casting the [voice for] the lead female character, Suman. We are showing her journey from being a less confident singer, with a raw voice, to one who goes to auditions, and finds her place on the [stage of the finale round of a competition]. I had to find a singer who could do justice to this journey with her voice — showcase rawness in the early part of the film, and then mould it into a mature voice as she became better. This was tough, because it’s tough to fake that and make a singer sound bad, deliberately. So, I had to make a composition that was not in the singer’s comfort zone, so that she could sound raw, but good.
Abbas: In commercial cinema, it is not like we don’t have musicals. But, [makers focus on] songs that play a role in marketing instead of those that take a story forward. Now, we consider a film a musical if it has popular songs. But this may not be accurate. Our film, of course, is one that uses music to take the story forward. Working on it has hence been enjoyable.
To give you an example of how we are approaching it, we have been discussing our take on one of the songs, which will be in either Malayalam or Tamil. We are considering how we should approach the song-writing for the translated Hindi version. The lyricists then, were not very accomplished, so, the writing wouldn’t sound as polished as a piece written by Gulzar would. We are wondering if our translation should hence be one that doesn’t seem polished or well-rounded, as it was then. We aim to capture the same feel. That is an enriching process.
Mohan: Also, we are trying to create a back story for each song. In one [of the early] scenes, she sings for a few people on her terrace. We’ve given thought to why she would sing that song, which is one that her grandmother would sing to her. And the reason is that because it’s a song she has known since her childhood, she’s comfortable singing it. As the film progresses, and her personality changes, you can see her become confident and ambitious. At that point of time too, we have thought about why she would select the songs that she does.
Since this film tells the tale of a female protagonist, was there ever the need to get a female musician’s input for the music or the narrative?
Abbas: I came on board late, but, I think Chandan and Mohan would not have thought about it in terms of selecting a male or female [writer]. It’s an interesting question — to consider if a female lyricist would capture something about the [protagonist’s] frame of mind, but as a storyteller, I’d like to think I am accomplished in telling the stories of women too.
Mohan: When we jammed with the singer, we could see her character [shine]. When she rendered it, the song was built differently too; it took shape. The singers I know are extremely talented. When they come on board, they add character to a song in every way.
Is there something else with regard to the music-making process that you’d like the readers to know about?
Mohan: We want to release the songs in the same order that they appear in the film, so that the viewers can understand how the film proceeds. We also don’t want the process to become too intellectual where the emotions get [camouflaged]. This is also my tribute to a lot of the artistes I have grown up doting on, like Rahman, Jagjit Singh, and Ilaiyaraaja, among others. For me, to create something that pays tribute to them, without aping them, is gratifying.
Chandan Roy Sanyal begins work on his second directorial venture, The Playback Singer
8:20 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 19, 2023)
Chandan Roy Sanyal has no time to spare. The actor, who turned director and co-producer with Suzie Q, has started prep for his second directorial venture titled, The Playback Singer. The musical period love story sees the actor essaying the role of a struggling and lovelorn singer.
“The story is set in the ‘90s, when Hindi cinema music was booming with the [voices of] Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik and Kavitha Krishnamurty. “It is a part of my growing-up years, and I wanted to bring back the bygone era,” says Sanyal of the film that is set to go on the floor by year-end.
Talking about his wrapping up the psychological thriller—Suzie Q, he reveals that the Prakash Raj-starrer is “a dark comedy about a murderer who blackmails her own ex-husband for money.” Sanyal claims that juggling acting and direction is a “fun thing” to do.
“It never feels like a burden. The planning of a film is exciting. Also, I’ve been inspired by prolific actors like Charlie Chaplin, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Woody Allen, and others who found expression in directing movies.”
Aashram is like 15-28 films. I have almost 400 minutes of screen time-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:21 AM
Shaheen Irani (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 13, 2022)
There was a time when actor Chandan Roy Sanyal felt “lost” and “discontented” with the work he was getting. That, however, changed with Aashram.
Sanyal, who is making headlines for his role as Bhopa inthe web series, is grateful to director Prakash Jha for bringing the project to him. Having played characters with shorter screen time in films, he says, “Aashram is like 15-28 films [in terms of screen time]. I have almost 400 minutes of screen time. That’s how I look at it. That’s what changed for me,” he says.
Looking back at the time when he felt disappointed at not getting “rewards” despite receiving good reviews, Sanyal says, “I just felt weak because even if I was doing a lot of projects, there was discontentment of not getting the rewards.”
But this outlook changed during the pandemic. He adds: “During the pandemic, Aashram (1 and 2) released and then I did Sanak. All three of them did so well that I realised that my own thoughts were coming in the way of my success. I got an opportunity to restart, rework on myself and see where things go.”
The OTT space has worked well for Sanyal, much like many other actors. He believes that the shift in focus from stars to content, has given the right opportunities to talented artistes and given them recognition.
Next to be seen in director Navdeep Singh’s web show, Sanyal wishes to explore other genres, especially comedy, in the future. “I’m not a villain but a comedian,” he signs off.
Chandan Roy Sanyal forays into direction with psychological thriller
8:28 AM
The actor-producer and writer, who started his career in films as a rank outsider, now hopes to create a space to empower talent and bring interesting stories to the big screen
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; February 13, 2022)
Sanak (2021) actor Chandan Roy Sanyal is foraying into production with the psychological thriller Suzie Q, which sees him also take on the roles of writer and director. Under his banner, Chandan Roy Sanyal Pictures, he aims to present “quality cinema that resonates with my ideals of filmmaking”.
Sanyal, who has co-produced the project, says, “I’m thrilled to announce my banner’s first production. This is also the first time I have directed the feature film and have written the script for it too. Making a film is a lifetime experience, especially when it is your first. It takes patience, diplomacy and hard work if you want to make it on your terms and not [entertain] interference. Although it took me four years to complete it, I persisted.”
Speaking about the film, he says, “It is a dark psychological comedy. I think the genre chose me. I was writing something else, but ended up making this one. This was my last story, but this became my first film.”
The actor-producer and writer, who started his career in films as a rank outsider, now hopes to create a space to empower talent and bring interesting stories to the big screen. His first production and directorial venture is a step in that direction.
I felt famished before, but feels nourished now-Chandan Roy Sanyal
7:53 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 5, 2021)
Actor Chandan Roy Sanyal’s career hadn’t taken off since he made his debut in Rang De Basanti (2006) starring Aamir Khan. But OTT platforms have been a game changer for him. Web series such as Ashram and films such as Ray, and the recent OTT release Sanak gave him a chance to shine.
The ecstatic actor says, “OTT gave me more opportunities to prove myself than films. They (films) did not explore me fully. What OTT has done for me and given me right now… I have no time to take up more work. There is too much of it coming my way.”
However, the 41-year-old is conscious about not overexposing himself. “I want to keep myself fresh. My guru taught me to keep it like that. This is happening to me for the first time. I do not want to get fatigued by working too much. I want to juice it well, araam se,” reveals Sanyal.
On a philosophical note, Sanyal says that “he felt famished before, but feels nourished now”. He explains, “I was [earlier] just surviving with a few things on my plate, in terms of characters and roles. Now I have Italian and Indian for breakfast. Before, it was just a few square meals a day and I couldn’t have survived on that for long.”
Will Aashram attack row affect Madhya Pradesh's reputation as one of the most film-friendly states?
8:25 AM
‘No such incident will take place in the city in the future’, assured the DIG Bhopal, after protesters were seen pelting stones and manhandling crew on set
BOMBAY TIMES (October 26, 2021)
On Sunday, around 50 protesters barged on to the sets of MX Player series Aashram 3 in the Old Jail Premises located in Arera Hills, MP, where they smeared ink on director Prakash Jha, manhandled bouncers and pelted stones, damaging several vehicles, including lead actor Bobby Deol’s vanity van, state reports. The protesters – who were subsequently identified as members of the local Bajrang Dal – were allegedly heard yelling, ‘Bobby Deol murdabad’ and ‘Prakash Jha murdabad’, while demanding, ‘Bobby Deol kahan hai?’ and raising objections over the name of the series.
A source from the sets told us, “The shooting was on when suddenly hordes of people gatecrashed it with a flag and started shouting slogans. Prakash ji was busy with the shoot inside. When he heard the noise he rushed out, and met the people and listened to their issues and demands. He tried to pacify the protesters. Jab woh samjhauta kar rahe the, unpe ink phenka gaya aur maar peet karne ki bhi koshish ki gayi. Between all this, the police came in.”
The source adds that after all the ruckus on set, the shooting of the show has resumed. “Actors like Bobby Deol and Chandan Roy Sanyal were on set, too. Thankfully, they were not attacked. Everything on set returned to normalcy within an hour. We’re all back to the shoot. It is going on smoothly now.”
NO SUCH INCIDENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY IN THE FUTURE: DIG BHOPAL
While the production team didn’t file a police complaint, Irshad Wali, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Bhopal, told TOI, “Police can take action in cognizable offences without waiting for a complaint. A case under IPC 151 (Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace) was registered at MP Nagar late at night. No such incident will take place in the city in the future. All the crew members are safe. We are taking proper measures to keep the city safe from those who are trying to defame it.”
We reached out to the show’s makers (MX Player and Jha) and Deol, but they did not comment on the matter till the time of going to press.
— TNN (With inputs from Onkar Kulkarni)
WILL THIS AFFECT MP’S REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST FILM-FRIENDLY STATES?
MP was awarded the National Film Award for being the ‘Most Film Friendly State’ in 2018. The recipient of the award is chosen on the criteria of ease of filming. The jury takes into consideration many aspects, including how the filmmakers are treated and how friendly people are. However this isn’t the first such incident in the state. In 2019, shoot of Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg 3 was halted after an outfit claimed that the song featured saints and priests dancing, which “hurt sentiments”. Jha himself has shot multiple films in MP including Raajneeti, Aarakshan, Chakravyuh, and Satyagraha in Bhopal. During a discussion in Delhi a few years back, he called the state his ‘karmbhoomi’.
The Film Facilitation Office’s (FFO) website prominently features Jha’s comments on film shooting in MP. It reads, “Bhopal is the best place in the country for shooting Hindi movies. The atmosphere and scenic beauty, blended with chummy Hindi-speaking people, makes it most suitable for filmmaking, I am so in love with Bhopal that I may become a native of the place. As far as shooting films is concerned, I will continue to shoot films here.”
Shot on smartphone, Chandan Roy Sanyal’s directorial So Sicily is finalist at a film festival in Spain
8:17 AM
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 3, 2021)
Actor and writer Chandan Roy Sanyal’s directorial So Sicily has been selected as the finalist at Cinephone International Smartphone Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain. He shot the movie for a month in 2019, on a smartphone, with a four-member crew, across Italy.
“After I wrote So Sicily, I thought, instead of asking people for money to make it, let me collaborate with my two friends and shoot it the way I want. I also reached out to an actor friend residing in Munich who reached Sicily where we did a workshop,” shares Sanyal, 41, who adds that he also acted in it.
The actor shares that had it not been for the pandemic, he would have sent the film to other film festivals as well.
Talking about how he thoroughly enjoyed the process, Sanyal says, “There are some stories that one can tell with just a camera and an actor. We shot across oceans, deserts, forts, palaces, churches, trains, ships, airports and stations. We took a car from Rome and drove down to South Italy.”
Over the years, with his own money, Sanyal has made a few short films and shared them with different directors to get their feedback. The Jabariya Jodi (2019) actor says, “I’ve shown them to people I admire — (filmmakers) Vishal Bhardwaj, Prakash Jha and Imtiaz Ali. They appreciated my storytelling and encouraged me to make more films.”
But does he have any plans of directing a feature film? “Yes, I’ve been writing. I want to tell new-age stories,” he concludes.
I taught Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology at a college in Malad in Mumbai-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:16 AM
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 5, 2021)
Chandan Roy Sanyal’s career, before he became an actor, was an unusual one — he was a teacher. Looking back, the actor on Teacher’s Day, credits that profession to shaping who he is today. “I took to teaching in Delhi and the memories of it make me smile even today. The things you learn as a teacher from your students are priceless. You witness firsthand, your students’ curiosity and their readiness to question everything,” he shares.
So where did he teach and what were his subjects during his tenure as a teacher?
He tells us, “I taught school kids all the subjects. Teaching in college was my first occupation in the city of dreams. I taught Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology at a college in Malad (in Mumbai).”
As a student, too, the actor says he always admired teachers for their commitment to their jobs. “I was the kind of student who looked at teachers as my parents in school. As life progresses, our friends, our colleagues, children and situation assume the role of a teacher,” the 41-year-old explains.
Sanyal made his debut in the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra film Rang De Basanti (2006). But his big break came with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey in 2009. Talking about the transition from teaching to acting, he says, “Before I dived into acting, I needed money to travel to Mumbai. I started tutoring school kids in Delhi and their fee funded my trip to Mumbai.”
So, would he ever go back to teaching, even if it is as an acting coach? Sanyal says he does not see that happening anytime soon.
“I would love to share my experience with the aspirants. Nothing would give me a sense of purpose as much as letting them know what they can expect from a career in acting and how they can navigate the industry. It is a huge responsibility and when the time is right I would love to don that hat as well,” he concludes
Once a villain, always a villain notion doesn’t exist anymore-Chandan Roy Sanyal
7:45 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 25, 2021)
For actor Chandan Roy Sanyal, playing a baddie onscreen is quite fun, as he believes one doesn’t have to worry about getting trapped in the image of a villain, now.
“A villain’s role has changed immensely in Bollywood. Previously, we have had some very famous villains such as Pran sahab, Amjad Khan and Amrish Puri. They were the quintessential villains of Hindi film industry,” Sanyal states.
The actor feels they kept on doing roles of a villain because “once a villain always a villain”. However, that’s how it was then, but not anymore.
In his career, Sanyal has explored the negative roles through projects such as D-Day (2013), Jazbaa (2015), and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017).
“After I’ve played a villain, I take a break and do something else, or try a different language,” he reveals.
As for his motivation, Sanyal derives it from the script itself. “There is nothing special that I do, thinking that it is a role of a villain, and thinking how I will walk or act. I just play it like a role. In my vocabulary, there is nothing such as a villain or negative role,” says the actor, who is currently busy shooting for Sanak, co-starring Vidyut Jammwal, Neha Dhupia and Rukmini Maitra.
We are live streaming the whole film, being performed in one shot-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:06 AM
Actor-director Chandan Roy Sanyal's latest cinematic experiment makes its debut online today as a one-shot film, being acted out and live-streamed with no cuts
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; December 20, 2020)
For actor Chandan Roy Sanyal, best known for the role of Mikhail in Kaminey, the lockdown brought his production company, Proscenium Film Company, to a halt. But after a few months of being out of action, Sanyal and his colleagues realised they couldn't idle away their time. They decided to get into the groove of things by starting small, with a rehearsal reading on Zoom.
"We began with reading Dumbwaiter, a one-act play by Harold Pinter. We started rehearsing four versions of it. We were hoping to perform it, but then we were told nothing was possible until the theatres opened. So, we had to figure how to put together a play that could be taken to the audiences, online, in a digital format," says Sanyal, last seen in Prakash Jha's web series, Aashram.
Dipping into the feeling of frustration, he wrote In Between, which is set in the waiting room where an audition for a film takes place, and is packed with actors who play "actors auditioning for a role". In its format, the film is a one-shot film, which basically means it has no cuts. "What the format needs is a fair bit of rehearsing. If you make a mistake, it won't work. The audience is watching it as we are doing it, so to speak. It's not recorded. It's like live streaming the whole film, being performed in one shot. It's no different from being at the theatre," he explains. When ticketing platform Book My Show saw a sample of one rehearsal, they gave them their platform to stream it on.
That's about form. As far as the subject went, it's the insider-outsider debate that erupted after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, that proved inspiration. "Often, people forget that even established actors need to give auditions and face rejection. Soon, the whole debate nosedived and everyone was taking potshots at the film industry. Basically, actors were called useless. The perception was that the movies are all about glamour, and no hard work. That's why I wrote In Between, which is set in an audition waiting room, and shows the desperation an actor experiences to get a part."
Sanyal admits that he drew into his own personal struggle, remembering a time when he took the local train, his world packed in one bag. "I would change in public washrooms, shave, wash up, and know how to be ready just about anywhere. What also happens is that in an audition room, whatever is happening outside doesn't count. You may have come from a funeral, but inside the audition room you have to behave as if nothing has happened. You may already be a working actor, and may have come from a set, but here, you are like a beginner giving an audition."
In Between, then, was his way of letting the audience and aspiring performers into an actor's life, especially the patches of frustration and the politics. "They should know that this is a playground and you have to get dirty to get some place. And even once you get what you want, you have to keep at it because then it's about getting the next good part, and the next. It's not easy at all."
I don’t want to overeat and have indigestion in entertainment-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:06 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 18, 2020)
“People loved my work and I got recognition for my performances. I have not had a year like this. But due to the kind of year 2020 was, I am ashamed to say bahut maze aaye iss saal,” says Chandan Roy Sanyal.
He credits the social media for his popularity to grow manifolds. The actor admits that when his other projects released earlier, people would say it’s good but the kind of love he got this year was also due to social media trends. “Aashram became a mass loved project. I have had people from all over the world getting in touch [with me] for the show. They could relate to the story and director Prakash Jha is known for his social political thrillers,” he says.
Sanyal, who rose to fame with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey (2009), also made news for his performances in web series Parchhayee (2019), Bhram (2019) and Kaali. He reveals that this acclaim has translated into a lot of work. “I have been reading some interesting scripts. In fact, I have 10 to 15 shows in the offing but it’s humanly not possible to do all. I will pick good stuff. I don’t want to be swayed by adulation. This is not going to last forever. Tomorrow, some other project will take the nation by storm. I don’t want to overeat and have indigestion in entertainment (laughs),” he says.
He created a show called In Between, with a bunch of theatre actors during the lockdown which is one shot live film. They have done three shows last month and he is glad with the response. “I am trying to maintain a balance with the projects I choose. Talks are on for a few biggies in 2021, and I am glad that this year, OTT gave me the chance to be in the middle of the frame. Earlier, I would be on the side. That is exciting for me. I am looking forward,” he concludes.
Image: Chandan Roy Sanyal resumes shooting with Sanjay Mishra for Woh Teen Din in Benaras
8:14 AM
Chandan Roy Sanyal talks about resuming shoot for Raj Ashoo's Woh Teen Din also starring Sanjay Mishra
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 19, 2020)
While Sanjay Gupta has delayed the shoot of Mumbai Saga and other filmmakers are still contemplating their next move, director Raj Ashoo has already set up camp in Benaras for his next. The filmmaker has taken his cast and crew to complete the shoot of the Chandan Roy Sanyal and Sanjay Mishra-starrer Woh Teen Din.
The slice-of-life film revolves around the hilarious interaction between a passenger and rickshaw puller played by Sanyal and Mishra, respectively. To ensure a smooth filming process, Sanyal flew to Benaras two days prior to the shoot and will be in the city for 10 days. The shoot is set up in Chunar, a small town in the district of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.
Stepping out after four months due to Coronavirus lockdown, Sanyal says he is tad paranoid, but excited to begin work. Sharing pictures of his experience in Banaras, he says, "Stepping out after four months, I feel like a beginner. I'm relieved that the makers are handling the safety of the cast and crew wonderfully. It is amazing to be working with Sanjay Mishra for a film that has such a unique story."
I can change people's mindset-Chandan Roy Sanyal
8:25 AM
Chandan Roy Sanyal on his character, a rickshaw driver propagating environmental causes, in his upcoming web series Hawa Badle Hassu
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; April 13, 2019)
After the web film, The Sholay Girl, Chandan Roy Sanyal is set to feature as an environment-conscious auto-rickshaw driver in Sony Liv's digital series, Hawa Badle Hassu. Talking of playing the titular role of Hassu, Sanyal says, "This driver is different from the rest. He is more educated, and has interesting stories to narrate."
Likening his offering to Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, which sees leading man Robert De Niro, a mentally unstable veteran as a night-time taxi driver in New York, he says, "He crosses over to the dark side after hearing the conversations in his back seat. But here, my character tries to change people's mindset, and opinions on the environment."
Stating that the offering is along the lines of a common-man-turned-crusader, Sanyal says playing Hassu posed its share of challenges. "He is happy and optimistic, and tries to bring happiness in people's lives. Capturing these elements was challenging." There's not much he's willing to discuss of its climax yet, suggesting that it may unveil the peg of what could be the series' second edition.
For creative producer Protiqe Mojoomdar, the positive response towards sci-fi stories was motivation to create an offering that could discuss environmental matters in similar light. "The idea was to engage an entertainment-loving nation into an important conversation on environmental hazards."
Chandan Roy Sanyal to make directorial debut with RSVP; starring Anshuman Jha, Tannishtha Chatterjee
7:46 AM
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 15, 2017)
After directing four short films — Hiroshima, 35mm, Azaad and Elementa — Chandan Roy Sanyal is set to make his feature film debut with RSVP that has Anshuman Jha and Tannishtha Chatterjee in the lead. “The film is about a son who exacts revenge from his father. It’s an absurd comedy of lust, love, revenge, treachery and power,” informs Chandan, adding that it will be shot entirely in Sri Lanka in March and April next year.
For his debut, Chandan has adopted a narrative style called devised script formula. “The actors are assigned characters and pushed to borrow from real stories and emotions, which are then fabricated into a narrative with all the ingredients of classic cinema. British filmmaker Mike Leigh uses this technique. The process starts way before principal shooting which we have already begun. I’ve been working with the actors and the key departments for the past three months,” he explains, adding that he also has a cameo in the film. “It’s a small but effective part, you might not even recognise me.”
He is all praise for his cast. “Anshuman and Tannishtha are intelligent actors. I’ve literally seen Anshuman grow on stage as he started out as a teen.”
Chandan, who was last seen in the Saif Ali Khan-starrer Chef and Jab Harry Met Sejal with Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, is quick to clarify that acting will always be his first love. “I have made four shorts in the last two years. To get a better grasp of the medium I kept pushing my boundaries. Now here I am, with my first feature film,” he says with a flourish.
The final script will be ready by January. “Actors will be given the dialogue credit as well because they are coming up with lines as much as the screenplay writer Juhi Shekhar and me,” he signs off.
Mirza Juuliet cleared by Censor Board; is sex no longer a taboo?
8:13 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 3, 2017)
Sex, it seems, is no longer taboo for the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC aka the Censor Board). Mirza Juuliet, a rustic and raunchy adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet has the CBFC softening their hard stance on sexual content. The film has been cleared with an ‘A’ certificate.
Says a source close to the film, “The film is set in the North Indian heartland and is quite raw, visually and verbally. The Censor Board has allowed a lot of it (read: cusswords) to remain. Chandan Roy Sanyal plays a horny suitor of the heroine. He is constantly lusting, and in one sequence he is even seen masturbating while calling out her name. Surprisingly, the CBFC has allowed the bold sequence.”
Chandan Roy Sanyal says, “I thought of it a challenge for me as an actor. Surprisingly female audiences who have watched the scene have laughed. My character is so horny all the time, he’s funny. He has the audience in splits. I am surprised that the CBFC didn’t cut out the masturbation scene.”
Censor chief Pahlaj Nihalani says, “We are not prudes. When sex is an integral part of the plot, we allow it. Mirza Juuliet is defined by the politics of violence. We’ve cut as little as possible.”
Chandan Roy Sanyal gifts Chef co-star Saif Ali Khan Hindi books
7:45 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (March 24, 2017)
The shoot of the Raja Menon-directed gastronomical comedy-drama, Chef, just wrapped up after a schedule in New York and Chandan Roy Sanyal who plays a Sous chef in it asserts that Saif Ali Khan is the best star he has worked with. “He’s an intelligent, suave, cultured, well-read humorist with a passion for life… A child at heart,” the actor, who grew up watching his films like Main Khiladi Tu Anari, says. He recalls, when Saif invited him home, Chandan gifted him two books, both Hindi translations of Badal Sircar and Jean-Paul Sartre’s plays.
Saif was intrigued when he found that the books were not in English, a language he’s more familiar with, till Chandan pointed out that Saif had books in English on every topic in his personal library. “I told him a book on Hindi plays would be an embellishment and Saif promised to read them, slowly but surely,” says Chandan, who will be seen as a sex-starved virginal buffoon in the upcoming Mirza Juuliet.
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