Bong Beauty Konkona to be a debut director for 'A Death in the Gunj'

Toronto: Actor Konkona Sensharma has followed in her mother Aparna Sen's footsteps to get behind the camera for a directorial debut that brings to life the old world charm of Jharkhand's McCluskiegunj. 'A Death in the Gunj', a feature film set in the resort town, had its world premiere at the 41st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) yesterday.

Screened in the special presentations section that has films like British director Ken Loach's Palme d'Or-winning 'I, Daniel Blake' and American actor-director James Franco's 'In Dubious Battle', 'A Death in the Gunj' is a family road trip story about the unravelling of a shy young man in the 1970s. The film tells the story of Shutu, played by Vikrant Massey, who finds himself in the not too supportive company of his close family in McCluskiegunj following the death of his father. Eager to escape into himself, the young man is drawn into a vortex of emotions as his overbearing relations make him a punching bag for each one's whims.

McCluskiegunj, where the rich families from Kolkata went for a sojourn in its agreeable climate, quietly plays a dominating character in the film. "It is a magical place," Sensharma said about the resort town. "My parents used to go there always and I spent several holidays in McCluskiegunj while growing up," she added. Set in the times of the violent crackdown on young Naxalites in Bengal, the film heavily builds itself into the loss and vulnerabilities of a young man.

"The film is deeply steeped in a sense of place," said Toronto festival's artistic director Cameron Bailey. "Sensharma's camera captures the natural beauty of the family home's surroundings as she patiently lets her Chekhovian story build to its dramatic and tragic conclusion," said Bailey. Sensharma, who won the National Award for Best Actress in 'Mr and Mrs Iyer' directed by Aparna Sen in 2002, brings together an ensemble of actors, including Kalki Koechlin, Tillotama Shome, Gulshan Devaiah and Ranvir Shorey.

Based on a story inspired by true events by her father Mukul Sharma, 'A Death in the Gunj' continues the trend of the Toronto festival's selection of powerful films by Indian women directors. Last year, the festival screened Meghna Gulzar's 'Talvar', in which Konkona Sensharma had an acting role, and 'Parched' by Leena Yadav. Other Indian women directors at TIFF this year include Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe) and Deepa Mehta (Anatomy of Violence). (UNI)