I play a socially responsible journo in Shoonyo Awnko: Konkona Sen Sharma

Highlights

• The role of a socially responsible journalist in a Goutam Ghosh movie is perfect in many ways since the character is an ideal person, says actress Konkona Sen Sharma about her role in Shoonyo Awnko (Act Zero).
• "Raka Bose is an ideal person. She is someone acutely aware about her social responsibilty. And when you work under one like Goutam Ghosh that becomes the ideal situation to work on such a character. So it becomes ideal in many ways," Konkona told PTI here last evening.
• Konkona, one of the six principal characters faced with the confronting realities of insurgency-stricken, poverty-ridden 'Bharat' and the shining 'India' of IT and city Volvo services, said "Goutam mama (Gautam uncle) didn't specifically give any tips before a shot."
• Asked if she had modelled her role on any woman journalist she had interacted with and Konkona said, "No, I didn't. I haven't encountered any journo like Raka in real life frankly speaking and I went by my instinct and the director's brief."
• Konkona, whose third film Mr and Mrs Iyer by Aparna Sen had been cinematographed by Goutam Ghosh, said, "Yes in his film Shoonyo Awnko too he is the cinematographer. But frankly speaking I don't know that much of cinematography to comment except that the camera work looks really good."
• Asked how she has evolved over the years after turning up in films by directors ranging from Aparna Sen (Mr and Mrs Iyer, Iti Mrinalini, 15 Park Avenue), Rituparno Ghosh (Titli), Madhur Bhandarkar (Page 3) and Goutam Ghosh, Konkona said "I feel I still remain the same working with so many big directors.
• "When you feel humbled, how can you rate your performance, or whether you have changed," she added as an afterthought.
• "Kankon's (Konkona's pet name) character is modelled on some Kolkata-based woman journalists of leading publications I know personally who have the zeal and desire to probe beyond their city environs and explore the land of sub-alterns, the other India," director Goutam Ghosh said.
• "And need I say anything about the performance of Kankon whom I had seen as a newborn!" Goutam said about the film produced by Rose Valley.
• Bengali superstar Prosenjit, who had essayed the role of sufi baladeer Lalon Fakir in the 19th century Bengal in Ghosh's earlier film Moner Manush, said, "Shoonya Awnko will be another introspective treat by Goutamda, I am sure. And like Moner Manush, here also the director's grasp on music will make the songs an absolute clincher in the domain of music lovers."
• Leading singer and composer of contemporary lyrics Anupam Roy (of Autograph fame) said, "I composed lyrics of two tracks in the film, Dhusar Chul and Ki Bibhotso Maja and music director Goutam Ghosh liked the same.
• "The language of the songs is in Bengali but the content is international. So I don't think my songs will only have an urban feel and not gel with the tale of the on-vibrant India, living on the fringes," Anupam said.
• "Anupam's two songs are already a hit on Youtube. So you guess how it will be received later," Prosenjit said at the launch of the album.