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Interview with Dr. Suman Ghosh – Filmmaker and Economist
By admin | August 4, 2008
Interview with Dr. Suman Ghosh – Filmmaker and Economist
“I am open to shoot film in the language which the story demands” – Dr. Suman Ghosh
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL RECORDING OF THE PHONE INTERVIEW
http://gaanmela.com/files/DrSuman GhoshGaanmelaInterview.mp3
Dr. Ghosh is a professor of Economics at Florida Atlantic University. He received his B.Sc degree in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta and did his MA in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, Delhi. He earned his PhD in Economics from Cornell University. Recently he has become renowned in the Indian film fraternity because of his first Bengali feature film Padokkhep. His debut film won the best regional feature film and Soumitra Chatterjee won the best actor in 2008. We are grateful that we were invited to watch this movie in 2007 at his uncle’s (Dr. Kamalendu Paul) home in Jefferson City, Missouri. Suman da’s presence was the added surprise. He walked us through the movie nicely and answered all of our questions. He is very down to earth, approachable and helpful. We really enjoyed watching Padokkhep with Suman da.
For more information visit Suman Ghosh`s homepage http://home.fau.edu/sghosh/web/
Supratim Sanyal interviewed him over the phone in connection with his filmmaking. The part of telephone interview was written by Ujjal Sarkar and Mita Das. We thank Dr. Kamalendu Paul for providing some information about his nephew. We also thank Ankan Basu for setting up this interview with Dr. Suman Ghosh.
Suman Ghosh
Q. You are a well known Economist. Will you share some information with us regarding your research interest?
S.G: First of all, I am not at all famous as an economist. I enjoy doing research on economics- that’s all. Let me tell you my educational background in the US. I earned my PhD in Economics from Cornell and currently I am teaching at Florida Atlantic University, in addition I do research on Development Economics. During my PhD days in Cornell I started taking film courses and it has always been a passion for me, and it is kind of paying off now.
Q. So, you have been always interested and enthusiastic about Bengali films?
S.G: Not only Bengali films, I was interested in films in general. Coming from a middle class family I was not allowed to pursue my film interests given that I was doing reasonably well in academics. That mentality is quite standard I presume. It is thought of as a risky proposition. After I came to the US I could follow my passion more seriously. I first did a documentary on Amartya Sen which was shown worldwide and then I started my feature film-career with a Bengali movie Padokkhep. I am going to make my second movie soon in Hindi. I am open to shoot in the language which the story demands.
Q. You scripted and directed your debut film Padokkhep in 2006. The movie was promoted and screened in various film festivals. Could you please tell us what kind of reaction you have received from the audience?
S.G: The world premier was at the Vancouver International film festival, then it was shown in Seattle, New York, Karlovy Vary, New Delhi, etc.
He added: Along with Kolkata, when the movie was shown at foreign festivals world over, the main subject matter was accepted widely by the audience. The audience could identify themselves with the main subject matter alike, without any inhibition. I liked the universality of the viewer’s acceptance. I have told a common human story which appealed all across the globe.
Q. What were the ideas and subjects that you wanted to express through Padokkhep?
S.G: The movie was inspired by a short story “The Curious case of Benjamin Button” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the life cycle of a person at the end one becomes a child again; which I comprehend as the completion of the human life cycle. The (above mentioned) short story explores that theme. I tried to express that main theme through other elements that are present in the story line, for example, generation conflicts and the loneliness of a seventy year old man in this modern era, etc.
Q. What are your future plans?
S.G: I will be working on two movies consecutively in the early part of next year. One will be based on a Marathi family with the back drop of the Mumbai riots. It will be a Hindi film about how violence affects the human psyche at a micro level. The other film will be a Bengali comedy movie, with Prosenjit Chatterjee in the leading role, where I will explore the larger impact of globalization in the language of a comedy.
Q. What is your opinion on current main stream Bengali cinema?
S.G: Honestly after Satyajit Ray, except Rituparno Ghosh, I do not see too many film makers making any good impressions. Rituparno da’s Bariwali, Utsab, Unishe April are excellent pieces of work. Of course Aparna Sen’s work has always fascinated me. I feel that post-2000 there has been a vacuum in the Bengali film industry. But I am sure that is temporary. Recently some new talents, new work, and experiments are coming along. I am very hopeful for what is going to come in the next couple of years.
Q. Thank you very much for your time.
S.G: Thank you.
If anyone is interested in buying a copy of the original movie Padokkhep it is available in most of the music stores in Calcutta. The DVD is available from Biswas records in the US.
The photograph courtesy to Ujjal Sarkar and Mita Das.
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Topics: Interviews | 13 Comments »
August 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
we want more movies from Ghosh
August 5th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Gooood Jobb.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
The interview looked awesome. Dr.Ghosh is indeed a luminary in the world of entertainment and thanks to Ujjal da and Mita di for their effort to present before us such a detailed interview of this talented man. I am pleased with your effort and hope to see more great works from you.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Darun laglo….!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Ankan, Ujjal and Mita you guys did an excellent job. You guys should do some more like this.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Excellent interview. Podokkhep is a very good movie.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
This interview is terrific and good piece of constructive work. Keep it up guys.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Thank you guys.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Actually it doesn’t matter which field you are in, but it matter how you can contribute in any field with your passion. Dr Suman has been already proved that. Guys we need passion to something. Thanks for Dr Suman to make an excellent movie “Padokkhep”. The script is great – creative without being flowery or dull.
Apart from the movie also I like these kind of interview where we can learn more about the movie and the creative work. Good job.
August 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Interview is very good. This type of things are required to promote people doing work of beauty and creativity. Frankly speaking I do not even know who is Dr. Suman Ghose before reading this interview. This type of activity will bring people with hidden capabilities to limelight.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
cool dude, Bengali community is awesome in Columbia.
August 16th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Awesome legeche amar total gaanmela concept taa. splly. Dr Ghosh er interview taa fatafati hoeche.thx to Mita for introducing me to this nice website. good job to all of u jara eta ke kore tulecho. good luck
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 am
I have known Suman since our high school(+2) days and never did I think that Suman had so much of hidden talent in mainstream movies.He was a brilliant student,down to earth and very friendly but never did I ever come across this hidden talent.Well done friend and we need more from your end.Padokkhep is just the beginning of Suman and there is lots in the kitty for sure.