Gargee Roychowdhury shares why ‘Mahananda’ is one of the most important films in her career

Arindam Sil’s much-anticipated ‘Mahananda’, inspired by the life and work of Mahasweta Devi, is finally set to hit the big screens today. Gargee Roychowdhury who plays the titular role in the film is anxiously waiting to see how the audience responds to the film. Her elderly look, using prosthetic makeup, has already created quite a lot of buzz.
Taking up the challenge of playing an upright character who defies social norms is not a cakewalk.And it gets more difficult when you have to essay the role of author-activist Mahashweta Devi. That’s the challenge Gargee Roychowdhury had to face.
Gargee left no stone unturned to slip into the character of a non-conformist, feminist author, who had fought for the rights of the tribals all her life.

The versatile actress admits this will be a milestone in her career: “It can be a milestone. That’s why I had to say yes to it. I have been in the industry for over two decades now, and for so many years, no one thought of such a character for me. The passionate energy of Mahasweta Devi is so invigorating. Imagine, in 1960, she walked out of her marriage with Bijon Bhattacharya and took many an odd job.
Those who know of her through the prisms of Hajar Churashir Maa and Rudaali only know a part of her. She was much beyond that, and that’s precisely what we want to explore in Mahananda. For this, I had to learn the Santhal language, read her body of work, went to remote villages of Purulia where she had been and also got sun-tanned, since everything can’t be achieved through makeup alone,” explained the actress.
When asked about the film’s relevance today Gargee pointed out that ‘Mahananda’ is for every generation, “Everyone can relate to this film based on the life and ideology of Mahasweta Devi. I have come across many from the young generation who are fascinated by the works of Mahasweta Devi and they are eagerly waiting to watch the film.”

While Gargee will be seen as Mahasweta Devi, the rest of the cast includes Debshankar Haldar, Arna Mukhopadhyay, Ishaa Saha and others in pivotal roles. Music has been composed by Bickram Ghosh, and the script is co-written by Subhendu Dasmunshi and Arindam Sil.