Sekhar Das

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Sekhar Das
Born (1954-11-24) November 24, 1954
Nationality India Indian
Occupation Film director

Sekhar Das (Bengali: শেখর দাস Born: 24th Nov 1954, alternate spelling Shekhar Das[1]) is a Bengali Movie director, scriptwriter. Sekhar Das with four award winning feature films to his credit is one of the leading filmmakers of Bengal. ‘E S P’(Extra sensory perception )’s his 5th venture. Resigning from a highly successful corporate career in 1997, Sekhar started his professional career in films and television, although he earned highest reputation as an actor par excellence but preferred writing scripts in the initial stage of his career, one of which, namely, Prohor won the national and International awards. Soon he took up direction in TV and films. Directed many mystery thrillers for a leading TV channel, possibly he is the only director internationally known to have adapted great Russian Playwright Anton Chekov’s all four classics in Bengali for TV film .A globe trotter that he has been, Sekhar Das had been associated with a travelogue program for a TV Channel for nearly three years as presenter, writer and director. This program covered Europe,particularly France and Germany,from Asia, it was Vietnam, Malaysia,Singapore, Australia. Sekhar has completed four feature films. He served on the juries for the Brisbane International film festival and also the national awards in India, he was selected as one of the selection committee members for nominating Indian film to Oscar.

Early life

Graduating from the University of Calcutta in both science and English literature, Sekhar Das, completed his French from Alliance Francais de Calcutta, keeping his masters in English literature incomplete, Das opted for film studies and appreciation in the Chitrabani (Communication centre of St Xaviers college, Calcutta). After receiving outstanding certificates in different streams of cinema, Das took serious interest in the Art of Screenplay writing and acting. He was lucky to learn the art of scripting from the Master screen play writer Jean Claude Carrier.

Theatre days

While working for an insurance company, Sekhar Das somehow lost interest in Cinema and concentrated in Theatre arts. He had the rare opportunity to associate himself with the great Director of International repute like Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowsky, Richard Secchner, Eugenio Barba, and with the Indian Masters like Habib Tanvir, Badal Sarkar. He produced and directed a dozens of plays some of which are Sophocles’Oedipus,Chekov’s Uncle Vanya, Tagore’s ‘Visarjan’(The sacrifice),Tasher Desh (The land of Cards),Rather Rashi (The rope of the Chariot), Jean Paul Sartre’s ‘Condemned of Altona’, Arrabal’s 'Picnique in the Battlefield’, Dario Foe’s “Can’t pay,Won’t pay”, Athol Fugard’s ‘Road to Mecca’,Arnold Weskar’s trilogy and many other plays. He excelled as an actor too and during those days he had the opportunity to meet great Indian Directors-Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Budhhadeb Dasgupta.

Filmography

From 1997 onwards Sekhar Das left his long association with Insurance company to join in the Television and cinema works professionally. From 1997 to 2000 he wrote for award winning television programmes as also wrote for highly popular television series.He directed short films and long Vedio films during that period.But in 2000 he decided to quite Television and concentrated on Films:-

Mahulbanir Sereng (Songs of Mahulbani) – script & direction Sekhar Das, surprised many by his remarkable debut with the film ‘Mahulbanir Sereng ( The Songs of Mahulbani ),based on the story by Tapan Badyopaghya, the film was marked as first ever Bengali film dealt comprehensively with the lives in the forest ( Jangolmohal). It was a mesmerizing experience for the film lovers for the beautiful songs and its kaleidoscopic view of the nature, the tribal people, their struggle, romance and agony. Critically acclaimed internationally, Mahulbanir Sreng is now a part of history for its commercial success also. It was honored in the Indian Panorama and got 11 awards conferred upon by BFJA.

Krantikaal (Critical encounter) – script & direction. His second film ‘Krantikaal’ (Critical encounter)based on the story by Prafulla Roy, was again a winner for its novelty of the subject that dealt with the secessionist problems of North-Eastern part of India and its treatment. Government of India selected the film for international viewing in seven international languages. This low budget experimental film, a gem of piece was also honored in the Indian Panorama, got two National awards, four International awards and six BFJA awards.[2]

Kaler Rakhal (The Understudy) – script & direction. By his third film ‘Kaler Rakhal’ ( The Understudy), an operatic musical which portrayed lives of colourful ‘Bahurupis’ (The itinerant performers) Das added another entry to his ‘outsiders’ series, completing the trilogy on ‘contemporary social issues’. Got the ‘Best achievement of the year award from BFJA and international awards.

Necklace:His last film Necklace, a bitter-sweet comedy surprised many for Sekhar’s control over film media and competency to deal with various subjects. The film was dedicated to the 50 year celebration of French new wave. Running successfully with rave reviews in India, USA and Canada since last September 2011

Director

  • Mahulbanir Sereng[Songs of Mahulbani] (2004)
  • Krantikaal[Critical encounter] (2005)
  • Kaaler Rakhal [The Undewrstudy] (2008)
  • Bishnu Dey [Documentary film] (2010)
  • Necklace (2011)[3][4]
  • E S P (unreleased, 2012)

Screenplay and dialogue

  • Mahulbanir Sereng (Songs Of Mahulbani)2004
  • Krantikaal (Critical Encounter)2005
  • Kaler Rakhal (The Understudy)2008
  • Necklace (2010)
  • E S P (unreleased, 2012)

Awards

  • "Mahulbanir Sereng: Best film, best director, best screenplay, best art director, best character actor, best story from BFJA, in Indian Panoama 2003
  • Krantikaal: Best regional film National award (2005), best character actor, National award. Best Director, Dhaka International, best actor (Roopa Ganguly), Dhaka International, Best film from Signis award (Belgium), special jury, Osien cinefan. Indian Panorama 2005
  • Kaler Rakhal: Best achievement of the year (2008) from BFJA, Best sound design from Ahmedabad international

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Element of unknown". Calcutta, India: Telegraph India. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012. 
  2. ↑ Das, Mohua (25 March 2009). "A complex world". Telegraph Calcutta (Calcutta, India). Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  3. ↑ Bhattacharya, Arijit (7 February 2011). "Rich man, poor man". Telegraph Calcutta (Calcutta, India). Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  4. ↑ "From the floors". Telegraph Calcutta (Calcutta, India). June 2, 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
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