Director Raj Chakraborty feels lack of producers' willingness halts children films

Director Raj Chakraborty, the man who helmed Bengali superhits like 'Chirodini Tumi Je Amar', 'Bojhena Shey Bojhena' and 'Kathmandu', feels films on children are becoming fewer in Tollywood due to want of producers for such projects. 

Chakraborty, whose upcoming film is a children's adventure-fantasy -- 'Adventures of Jojo', told PTI that directors in the industry who are keen to work on such narratives were struggling to find producers. "There are many directors who are eager to make films on children but don't get the producers," he said. 

The filmmaker also said he would think about a sequel to 'Adventures of Jojo' only if it turns out to be a commercial success. The film, the only children's flick to release in the festive week of Christmas this year, has themes of adventure, fantasy, bonding and wildlife conservation woven in the same plot, Chakraborty said. 

He said the USP of the film lies in its "Bengaliness" and will foster the love for adventure, forests and wildlife among the audience. 'Adventures of Jojo' traces the experiences of two friends Jojo and his sidekick Shibu, in pursuit of a gang of poachers trying to net a Royal Bengal Tiger called Genghis Khan. 

The two friends, played by child actors Joshojit Banerjee and Samiul Alam ('Sahaj Paather Gappo' fame), risk their lives to save the big cat from the clutches of the poacher gang in a fictitious forest, he said. The film was shot extensively in Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh and partly in Chapramari jungle of Dooars in West Bengal, said Chakraborty, who has directed over 16 films. 

On a query, whether the tiger Genghis Khan bore any resemblance to 'Shere Khan' and Jojo to 'Mowgli' (both from the 'Jungle Book'), he said children will find their own fantasy roles in the film. 

"The trailer of the film has a message - children will find their very own 'Shere Khan', 'Mowgli' and 'Bagheera' in the jungle. So, it was of no use to try to find those very epochal fantasy characters as they were," he said. Joshojit, son of popular Bengali actor Joyjit Banerjee, said he strongly felt there was a need to make more children's films in Tollywood. 

He said much like Hollywood's 'Avenger series' and other superhero characters, Bengali films, too, should have their own such versions. Chakraborty added that every individual has a child within, and certain films establish a common connect with audiences -- grown-ups or children.

(With inputs from agencies.)