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‘I’m thrilled to see my vision on screen’
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Writer Kunal Basu reacts to the filming of his short story.
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Photo: K. BHAGYA PRAKASH
Mutual admiration: Aparna Sen with Kunal Basu.
“I live in Oxford.” With these words seasoned writer Kunal Basu announced his arrival in Jaipur for the literature week.
Simple, unassuming, without any airs of a celebrated writer, he took time out before rushing to Delhi for the launch of his new book, The Japanese Wife, brought out by Harper Collins. His more salt-than-pepper in hair look is intact. As is the ability to put together words lucidly, even brilliantly in a hurried conversation before the breakfast!
Actually, the story of “The Japanese Wife” has been doing the media rounds for the past few weeks. It is being adapted to the silver screen by seasoned filmmaker Aparna Sen. Basu is understandably elated.
“This story is from the first book of 12 short stories. I won’t necessarily say that it is my favourite story. I have written them all because they are dear to me. They all convey the unexpected. They have the power of changing life, the way people look at life. But yes, good to see one of them make it as a film!”
Strong words, great endorsement for his craft? Well, yes, but Basu gushes about Aparna too.
“I am very happy with how the film has gone so far. I admire Aparna. I looked at the screenplay, had an extensive session of talks with her. I am completely convinced that it reflects the story. I am quite thrilled with the way Aparna has brought it to the screen. There have been no cinematic liberties and the essence is completely retained.”
So, “The Japanese Wife” , is likely to make it to a cinema hall near you later this year. Basu, who visited the sets during the shooting, evoked a great response from the cast, including Rahul Bose, Raima Sen and Moushumi Chatterji.
Good alignment
He also feels literature and cinema might just be aligning for good here. Very much like the English language where words of other languages have crept in unannounced but enriched the language all the same.
“There is nothing called the pure language. I live in Oxford. It is a myth that people speak pure English there or there is even something called pure English. For instance, Irish English is different. English is basically a fusion language. No matter where you come from, you can bring your own ethos, and incorporate those words in your language of conversation, even literature. It is a dynamic language.”
It is also a subject close to his heart, one discovers. “Look at Jewish writers. They have brought in words one thought did not exist. This incorporation of words is in no way detrimental to English. The language becomes richer. English should be grateful for the richness, the diversity, the multiplicity Indian writers have also brought to their work. It is now a global link language and should reflect varied ethos.”
So is “The Japanese Wife” also likely to reflect that global ethos on the big screen that would make it identifiable to a man in any part of the world? “From what I have experienced so far, I am thrilled to see my vision on the screen.”
The readers have given a thumbs up to his writing. Now the man behind “The Japanese Wife” awaits the response of cinemagoers!
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