Cheene Badam, the upcoming Bengali film starring Yash Dasgupta and Ena Saha, directed by filmmaker Shieladitya Moulik, is set to go on floors in mid-September.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, Moulik, who has previously directed women-centric and family drama films such as Sweater (2019), Ludo (2018), and Hridpindo (2020), among others, says it is the first time he is directing a rom-com.
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He adds that though the film is a romantic comedy, it handles some social issues as well, such as the youth always being on the phone and how this impacts their lives.
Cheene Badam, whose script is written by Momo, portrays how a relationship gets affected because of the over-usage of mobile phones.
“The kind of warmth we felt in our youth with friends, or in any relationship, does not exist anymore,” says Moulik. “People have become distant. I’ve felt it myself. Nobody waits for their friends to come from far away, you just make a video call. People don’t meet people anymore.”
While admitting that it has become very easy for people to connect, he adds that people have also become very isolated. “Everybody is on an island right now.”
The film is titled Cheene Badam (Peanuts) because it is something that connects people, says the filmmaker. In Kolkata, peanuts are served in little thongas (little bags made from recycled newspaper) and frequently consumed when sitting in an adda (hangout) or by couples. “Normally, people put their hand inside the thonga to share the peanuts,” says Moulik, adding that the film features an app called Cheene Badam, that helps one find friends. “It is not a dating app, it’s a friend sharing app.”
On working with Dasgupta and Saha, Moulik notes that there is a huge difference in the way he tells stories and the work they have done previously. “They have done fully commercial films in their respective careers until now. I am trying to utilise what they have in my kind of storytelling,” he says.
Dasgupta, who has previously played a romantic hero in several films and television serials, such as Gangster, Mon Jaane Naa, and Bojhena Se Bojhena, will be playing a very different character in Cheene Badam, the filmmaker adds. “I am trying to make it as realistic as possible. You will see less of his heroic side and more of a real person. It is going to be different, it’s going to be new.”
The shooting of Cheene Badam will take place in Kolkata itself. The film will have a theatrical release followed by a digital premiere later.
With a lot of big-budget films opting for an OTT release, Moulik says he too wants to venture into the digital space but only with something that will stand out. “I have conceptualised some exclusive projects for OTT, including a comedy, a sci-fi, a dark love story, and something based on gang wars. But I haven’t started working on any yet.”