Indian actress Raima Sen‘s upcoming film, Maa Kaali, has created a chatter point with its striking poster which has a reference to the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA. In the backdrop of the poster release, IBNS-TWF correspondent Souvik Ghosh catches up with Raima on the film, where she plays a woman affected by the 1946 Calcutta Killings… Excerpts…
Q. Maa Kaali deals with an issue which is rarely talked about. What was your initial reaction when you were offered the script?
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Q. Since you have a film background, did you consult your family members before opting for the role?
A. In fact, my mother was there whenever the director and producer flew down to Calcutta
(Kolkata) for meetings. My father was also present. Of course I have consulted them because of the subject of the film. My father always motivated me to do it and look at it from an actor’s perspective. Upon seeing the poster of the film, my parents were satisfied. To be honest, this is a very relevant film for the contemporary world. A lot of people don’t know about the Direct Action Day, Noakhali movement. To be very specific, people of this generation do not know about the incident by and large. It’s always good to do a film which is relevant, historical and impactful.
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Q. Going by your recent choice of films, many would claim you are rooting for propaganda projects. Did that cross your mind?
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Q. To be very specific, your role was a negative one.
A. Yes, absolutely. But people judged it even before watching. I am okay with constructive criticism provided the audience has watched it. But so much hate comments even before a release doesn’t make sense to me. Moreover, I am not affiliated to any political party so whatever film I am doing, it’s purely because I am an actress.
Q. Since the poster came out at a time when the CAA implementation happened and that too ahead of the elections, do you apprehend any backlash?
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Q. Tell us about the poster, which seems different.
A. It’s very different. I was like ‘wow’. I have probably never got such a lovely film poster before. I felt like this was the ideal poster for me.
Q. Did your perspective towards CAA change in the course of the making?
A. No. Actually CAA has been incorporated at the end. In the film, my character at the age of 80 is explaining how CAA is important and it will help to mete out justice.
Q. How was it working for Bastar: The Naxal Story?
A. I am yet to watch the film! I didn’t get to watch it yet. I will probably go to theatres soon to watch it.
Q. On a different note, you were seen doing yoga in a recent Instagram post. Is yoga a new thing in life?
A. It is a new thing in my life. I have been a gym person all my life but I have chosen yoga post lockdown. I think yoga is great for mental health, internal and external health. For me, it’s only yoga for now.
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/Raima Sen)
IBNS-TWF