Onir's Dream to Bring Bengali Stories to the Big Screen

Celebrated film-maker Onir, originally from Kolkata, expresses his desire to make a Bengali film. While known for his Bollywood works, Onir discusses the challenges in financing such a project. He also highlights the necessity of telling LGBTQIA+ stories in cinema, despite limited representation in Bollywood.

Celebrated filmmaker Onir, who hails from Kolkata before carving his niche in Mumbai nearly two decades ago, dreams of creating a Bengali film one day.

However, the National Award-winning director admits that he's unfamiliar with the financial landscape for Bengali cinema. Onir debuted with 'My Brother... Nikhil' in 2005 and made critically acclaimed movies like 'Bas Ek Pal' (2006), 'I Am' (2010), and 'Shab' (2017). 'For so long I've been working in Bollywood; people know me there. But I don't have much idea how things function here,' the 55-year-old told PTI.

Asked if he wants to make a film in Bengali, Onir said, 'Yes, I hope one day that will happen for sure. I have the dream.' Only a year back, Onir extensively shot in Kolkata for his last project. 'I am from this city. My love for the city runs deep in my blood. So, in a way, the soul and spirit of the place have been reflected in my works already, though not in the medium of Bengali,' he said.

Onir was in the city to attend the announcement of a docuseries on LGBTQIA+ by friend and 'Shab' actor Arpita Chatterjee. He expressed a desire to cast Arpita and her superstar husband Prosenjit in a future Bengali project but emphasized the need for a script that justifies their roles.

Onir, also an LGBTQIA+ rights activist, pointed out the scarcity of Bollywood films on the community. 'It is a matter of commerce and fear of audience rejection,' he added, stressing the importance of bringing such stories to the forefront. 'Producers from other countries are making films being feted in prestigious festivals like Cannes,' Onir stated.

Recently, the Best Actress award went to Anasuya Sengupta for her role in Konstantin Bojanov’s 'The Shameless' at the Cannes Film Festival 2024.