The only rickshaw we saw during the hour long drive from the city to the river and back, was this one.
It was a riot of colour against the stark dusty brown scape.
I shuddered to think,how long the old ladies would have waited for the next rickshaw !
But for now,they had got a lift and I got the pic.
Rickshaw pulling colour...
These 3 were waiting for a rickshaw.
We gave her a lift,and on the way the lady in the green sari talked...
She spoke of her family,her 13 grand children,and how she still is active.
She was taking her ailing friend to Purulia town.
She knew the Doctor,she had been his nanny.
These two boys materialized out of,seemingly nowhere.And they both stood still for a very long time.They were neither with the cattle,nor were they playing(the elder one had an inflated football bladder under his arm).
I was mesmerized by the younger ones eyes and his running nose.
I am not happy with the composition,but wanted to share these fiery eyes against the stark landscape of the dusty wintery morning.
Close to Purulia town is the river Kansawati.I drove one misty morning to its banks.All I saw were the Banks,the river bed was mostly dry.
The landscape was pretty much arid and dusty.With cattle being led in search of grazing land.
There I encountered this shepherd. He was sporting the team India cap.
He had paused to gather a straggling lamb,every member of his team mattered.
Ready with make up,whatever be the call time is the hallmark of a professional actor.
That morning,we had a 4am call.For me it meant a quick 10min makeup and ready !
For any actress it means a 3 am sit down for makeup.
Seeing her always on time,I joked with Indrani..."You get paid for your SINCERITY...your talent is something that you provide gratis".
But a 2am wake up ensured,she was pensive by 6am.
And I love capturing such moments !
After an hour of being photographed,as she was doing her make up...Indrani cracked up...With her characteristic smile she asked...
HOW MANY PIX WILL YOU TAKE?
I got the one I was waiting for !
Devi da watched intently as Indrani put the finishing touches to her eye make up.
There is benovelence and warmth in Devi da.Something I first experienced when he did my makeup,for a film in Guwahati nearly 10 years back.
In a makeshift makeup room in Hotel Akash Purulia Indrani Haaldar,one of the most accomplished actresses of Bengal was being made up by a senior makeup artist of Bengal,Devi Haldar.
Caught his attentive grimace, wrinkled hands and her eyes....Infact,just one eye.
After the chill of the rain shots,Rajesh downs a not so warm glassa chaaa.Another shot awaited him,as soon as the propellers moved closer...Brrrr...Wind added with rain on a Jan end night in Purulia West Bengal,is BAD NEWS for any actor.Luckily for me, I was'nt working that night.I just roamed around with my camera wearing a light jacket over my thick shirt..And to be honest...It was an absoloute delight catching my dear friend. . .CHILLING !
The art of creating rain and lightning for movies is...an art.Teams of people struggle with leaky hoses while the lightning man sparks at regular intervals.They drench the set and the actors,all so that it looks real.Not to be missed,are the whooshing Giant propellers providing the gale force winds.
I worked with Ringo in his first feature,last year.It was Bengal's first Feature shot in Digital format.
He is an absoloute live wire at work.He shouts,jokes,cajoles Films edits and directs,while playing the background score of the scene..
I visited him that evening as he shot a tele film,in a mosquito infested area near Ruby hospital Cal.
I caught his one moment of silence,before he called 'Action' !
Saheb,the chana jor garam chef !
At the Maidan...Cal...
Next morning I was to leave for Purulia for my new Bangla Film,Bonobhumi.
As Shuman and I chatted Music and life looking over the Maidan bathed in the evening orange..... I asked for chana.
Saheb is from Bihar. He has been selling chana jor garam for over 19 years.
Every 4 months he goes to his village for a month.While there he works the fields.
This Moharram day he made delectable packets of Chana jor garam for us in Cal.
He was setting up his shop for the evening at the Maidan in Cal.
He squinted looking at the sun.
I clicked.
He found my taking pix while people around stared to my good friend Shuman's embarassment, very funny...
As if on cue,I stood on my toes to get this pic.
Thank you Dada...You are one Dada no one will root for in Cal or elsewhere.
You might have made a living by ferrying people.But for us,that's a reminder of a Decadent past.We wont allow you to work...
Go back to your village and till your land,which has not been acquired for the SEZ.
As we drove away in our Innova,he still had a smile.
Like many lost causes,his too has no one to carry the torch.
He though carts the poster of another's cause...
He sat in a pensive mood,opposite the Mitra institution,Bhowanipore Kolkaata...
What was he thinking about?
Was it about a car plant? Or was it about his hand drawn livelihood,which will soon be wrentched out of his hands...
