Day 72. It wasn’t his first work but for me it was special. Not the least because it was made by him, my Raja Mamu. What made it even more special was that it was based on a favourite novel, Ekushe Paa, by one of my favourite authors, Bani Basu. Seldom does a film or serial live up to a book it is based on but in this case it would be difficult (read impossible) for me to choose which I loved more, the book or the serial. They were too close to each other, they were one. Just as I became one with the characters, I was one of them. I was in Class XII then, about to join college with dreams in my eyes and hope in my heart, just like Venkat, Ujjwaini, Mithu and the rest of the gang. And when after my HS exams, I got a chance to watch an entire day’s shooting, my joy knew no bounds. Reaching St. Thomas school early in the morning, watching the cast prepare for their scenes, hang around, have fun and give perfect takes…. It was, for me, stuff dreams are made of. I was actually spending time with all those characters I loved so much, they were as much my friends. I had another honour, appearing in teeny-weeny scene. I was Nandini, Nandini Pal (Bond, James Bond?) who Venkat (I couldn’t believe my luck, he was after all my favouritest from the book and so was the actor who played the role). I was dazed, tongue-tied and I don’t know how Raja Mamu managed to get me to say those couple of words even. While dropping me home, along with the rest of the cast, after the day’s shoot, he casually asked me if I could come the next day too, “for the sake of continuity”. Was that even a question? Of course, I could. So I was back the next day, attending the freshers’ welcome, much before I attended my real-life one. I was then on the threshold of college and today I was back at The Threshold, watching Choukaath – Raja Mamu’s first film. I had missed the premiere because I was not in town and had been waiting to watch it.
It was after a long long time that I was watching a film before office but it was too special an occasion not to dress up. Picked this blue Phulia handloom sari bought from Keya Mami Chaitali Dasgupta. It was a gift from Kakima, Sarmistha’s mother one Puja. Sarmistha and I went shopping together, she bought an orange one for herself and this one for me. Earrings and neckpiece are from a favourite shop, Aranya. Achintya and I had discovered it when it was a hole in the wall at Kalighat. We would often pick up their beautiful handmade stationery. When we moved to our new home, we bought a pair of bedside lamps from the shop for our room. It is in their light that we read every night. Tonight when I turn off the lamp and drift off to sleep, perhaps I will dream of a time long long ago when a beaming fangirl had her dream fulfilled, say a thank you to the man who made it happen and wish him well with all my heart now that his life’s dream has come true too. Waiting for the next one Raja Mamu.