Aparna Sen’s new project: A journey through ‘Her Indian Summer’
Aparna Sen, a veteran Indian director and actor, has announced her latest project, “Her Indian Summer,” which is set to be developed as an Indo-U.K. co-production. This revelation came during a recent London retrospective of her work, sparking excitement among film enthusiasts and critics alike.
A mixed-race love story set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan, “Her Indian Summer” promises to be a poignant exploration of love and identity. The film is being produced by Kolkata-based Indian producer-director Aritra Sen and Los Angeles-based British writer-director Alex Harvey’s Big Bazaar Films.
Aparna Sen: A legacy in Indian cinema
Aparna Sen first came to notice as an actor with the “Samapti” segment in Oscar winner Satyajit Ray’s “Three Daughters” (1961). She acted in several more films by Ray and also worked with Indian cinema greats Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, and Rituparno Ghosh. Her acting credits also include Merchant-Ivory films “The Guru” (1969) and “Bombay Talkie” (1970).
Sen’s directorial debut, “36 Chowringhee Lane” (1981), won her the best director award at India’s National Film Awards. She has since directed several acclaimed films, including “Paroma” (1984), “Sati” (1989), “Paromitar Ek Din” (2000), “Mr. and Mrs. Iyer” (2002), “Goynar Baksho” (2013), and “The Rapist,” which won the Kim Jiseok prize at Busan in 2021. She was also the subject of Suman Ghosh’s documentary “Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen,” which had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam earlier this year.
A new chapter with ‘Her Indian Summer’
“I am really excited about my story ‘Her Indian Summer,’ which I see as an Indo-U.K. co-production with major British and Indian actors,” Aparna Sen said. “I am delighted that Alex Harvey and Aritra Sen of Big Bazaar Films are taking this project forward and hope to start filming soon.”
Aritra Sen expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re delighted to be working with Aparna on an original story, which will be an English-language film just like her first.” Big Bazaar Films is also producing “Forest of Humans,” a documentary about Satyajit Ray and Kolkata, featuring Aparna Sen and directed by Harvey.
Harvey added, “Aparna appeared in four of Satyajit Ray’s films and also developed a lasting friendship with the great filmmaker, who acted as a mentor at the start of her own directorial career.” The company’s upcoming release, “Prantik” (The Talisman), draws inspiration from Ray’s classics “Pratidwandi” and “Jana Aranya.”
A retrospective celebration
Organized by the Bengal Heritage Foundation in collaboration with Big Bazaar Films, the mini-retrospective honoring Sen’s career was held at the Nehru Centre and Cine Lumiere. The two-day event featured screenings of Sen’s films “The Japanese Wife,” “Paromitar Ek Din,” and a restored print of “36 Chowringhee Lane.” The restoration was spearheaded by producer Shashi Kapoor’s son, the actor and producer Kunal Kapoor, and the screening was introduced by his other son, photographer and actor Karan Kapoor.
“The most rewarding part for me was the screening of my debut film ’36 Chowringhee Lane,’ beautifully and lovingly restored by Kunal Kapoor,” Aparna Sen said. “The new print brought out all the rich textures of the original and did credit to Ashok Mehta’s superb photography.”
A reflective closure
As Aparna Sen embarks on this new journey with “Her Indian Summer,” her legacy in Indian cinema continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. The film promises to be a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of love and identity against a historical backdrop. With a talented team and a rich story, “Her Indian Summer” is poised to be another milestone in Sen’s illustrious career.
For those eager to delve deeper into Aparna Sen’s work, the retrospective screenings and upcoming projects offer a treasure trove of cinematic brilliance. As we await the release of “Her Indian Summer,” the anticipation builds, and the legacy of Aparna Sen continues to shine brightly in the world of cinema.