Magic at Karlovyvary Film Festival Nilanjana Sharma's film for an international audience

Lata Khubchandani

After directing the acclaimed Ek Je Ache Konya (There is a girl), with Debashree Roy and Konkona Banerjee, Subrata Sen's second film Shopner Pheriwala [peddler of dreams], starring Nilanjana Sharma has been selected for the Karlovyvary Film Festival (to be held in the Czech Republic).

Daughter of Bengali actress Anjana Bhowmick (36 Chowringhee Lana, Nayeka Sangabad, Shukshari), Nilanjana seems to have inherited her mother's talent. "I am thrilled the film is travelling to Karlovyvary," says Nilanjana. "I have not seen the entire film because Subrata wanted me to see it at the premiere. I watched only the portions I dubbed for. It looks good. It's exciting to see myself on the big screen."

Nilanjana adds that her role was not difficult. "My role was very easy and realistic. There is something surreal about the story, with its many flashbacks. It deals with certain practices carried out in the name of religion. Subrata is a great director. He used to okay the first take so that we would not become monotonous. But I had to work on my Bengali. Living in Mumbai and speaking Hindi have rendered my Bengali rusty.

The film also stars Subrata Datta and Firdaus Ahmad. Nilanjana plans to attend the Karlovyvary Film Festival, between July 4 and July 14. "I started my career with the television serial Hip Hip Hurray two years ago. Director Nupur Asthana was the most difficult person I have ever worked with. But I also learnt the most from her and Vinay (the dialogue writer). Then I worked in Partho Mitra's Sansar. I also did a comedy Jaaneman Jaaneman directed by Paresh Kaamdar," she says.

The actress is now working with Raakhee Tandon in the teleserial Hum Hain Dilwale. She has also worked in Rajat Kapur's film The Girl, Her Father and The Bloody Chair.

"Shopner Pheriwala is about the search for real magic. I play a 20-year-old Bengali girl attending computer classes, living in an old house with my grandfather, uncle and aunt. I meet two men and they change my life," says Nilanjana.

Nilanjana is also doing an English film. "I did a short digital film with Ashwini Malik called Clever And Lonely. There are only two characters --- Aamir Bashir and me --- and we did the film for $ 208 each! They have been sent to international film festivals. We are looking for a release in any market --- art or commercial. It is a very basic film. No makeup. We used our own clothes and made our own food. There were no spot boys or lightmen. And we finished the film in a week. It is about what happens in 48 hours between a software consultant and someone who wants to make it big in the art world."