Sharmila Tagore, a cinematic icon whose grace and elegance have graced Indian screens for decades, has taken on a poignant new role in Suman Ghosh’s The Ancient (Puratawn). This Bengali-language drama, which had its Indian premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, delves into the complexities of memory loss and the enduring bonds of family.
Sharmila Tagore on playing a woman facing memory loss in Suman Ghosh’s The Ancient: “I just sort of imagined the character”
As per Variety, in The Ancient, Tagore portrays a woman confronting the gradual erosion of her cognitive abilities. The film unfolds as her daughter, Ritika (Rituparna Sengupta), and her husband, Rajeev (Indraneil Sengupta), return to their ancestral home in West Bengal to celebrate her 80th birthday. It is during this joyous occasion that Ritika becomes acutely aware of her mother’s declining mental state.
As Ritika grapples with the realization of her mother’s condition, the film embarks on a poignant journey of acceptance and understanding. Tagore’s performance is a masterclass in subtlety, as she captures the nuances of a character grappling with the loss of her own identity.
Tagore’s decision to take on this challenging role was driven by her admiration for the script and the director’s approach. “I liked the script, and I liked the narration,” Tagore told Variety. “I’ve also seen his ‘Kadambari’ and ‘Kabuliwala.’ I liked the director’s dedication to the kind of film he makes and also the script. I liked my role, and I hadn’t done this kind of film before.”
Ghosh’s approach to directing was refreshing to Tagore. Tagore’s character in The Ancient faces the challenges of memory loss, though the specific condition remains unnamed in the film. The actress further said, “He didn’t over-instruct. I just sort of imagined the character. I felt that this is how she’ll walk, this is how she will speak.”
Tagore remains selective about her projects. Her recent appearance in Gulmohar (2023) was motivated by the opportunity to work with a new generation of actors. “It was the opportunity to work with so many younger people with today’s kind of energy. So that attracted me,” Tagore explained.
An out-of-competition section that presents a selection of Indian films with popular names in their ensemble cast at MAMI. It showcases works from upcoming as well as established talent. This specially curated out-of-competition comprises Despatch by Kanu Behl (starring Manoj Bajpayee, Shahana Goswami), Ghamasaan by Tigmanshu Dhulia (starring Arshad Warsi, Pratik Gandhi), Go Noni Go by Sonal Dabral (starring Dimple Kapadia, Manav Kaul), the anthology My Melbourne directed by Kabir Khan, Imtiaz Ali, Onir, Rima Das, and The Ancient (Puratawn) by Suman Ghosh (starring Sharmila Tagore, Rituparna Sengupta and Indraneil Sengupta).
ALSO READ: Sharmila Tagore pays tribute to Ratan Tata; says, I feel privileged to have known him
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