EXCLUSIVE! Neeraj Pandey on Netflix’s Khakee: The Bengal Chapter: ‘You will see a Calcutta that is not exposed or introduced to us’

After the Khakee The Bihar Chapter, now we get to see Netflix’s Khakee: The Bengal Chapter and this is one of the most promising series on the digital platform. The show reflects the political condition, the crime scene since 1988. Whenever we talk about Bengal, it is only about the rich culture, heritage and literature. But no filmmaker has touched upon the crime and political nexus in West Bengal so vividly the way filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has for this show. Set against the backdrop of the late 1980s to early 2000s; Khakee: The Bengal Chapter reflects the nasty and debauched socio-political situation of the state during those days.

In an interview with Firstpost, Neeraj Pandey and actors Jeet Madnani, Saswata Chatterjee, director Debatma Mandal and Netflix’s Tanya Bami talk about Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, cinema changing and more.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

The Bihar Chapter was based on a true story, but Khakee: The Bengal Chapter is fictional… How difficult was it to understand the different layers of politics because it is very different in Kolkata?

 Neeraj Pandey: Yes, it is very different and the basic research that we did was when we came over to Kolkata. And when Debatma and I started working on the script of this, the basic research that we did was we met a few people. It is fiction, but it is rooted in the reality of Kolkata. And most importantly we have shown that part of Calcutta which is not seen too much.

In Khakee: The Bengal Chapter you will see a Calcutta that is not exposed or introduced. It is story about how truth prevails. We have exciting characters and the choices they make whether they are right or wrong. The show doesn’t have any connection with present day politics at all.

Let’s understand that politics worldwide is the same. There is no politics of today or politics of tomorrow. This is basically an assimilation of certain characters thrown into a situation and how they are reacting.

Saswata, you play a gunda (gangster)… so how was it like?

He doesn’t think he is a gunda. He thinks he is a good man. He has a backstory and every character in the series has a backstory. Every man or woman actually thinks he or she is right from their perspective.

Cinema is changing… when each character is important, not just the hero and the heroine. What do you have to say about that?

Saswata: Each and every character is important not only in a series, but in films too. It’s like weaving a garland. From day one it is actually the story. Even in the golden era of Bengali films, many were based on novels. So, the story in Bengali cinema has always been the hero.

Tanya Bhami: As the medium is evolving whether it is the way you are crafting it and the story is the hero. In series specifically all characters are important. At the same time the vision of the story has to be crystal clear. It is the way the creators and the writers imagine it. The audience has seen a dramatic shift in terms of their exposure. The world is shrinking with one story at a time.

How do you choose your roles Saswata?

 Saswata: As an actor I cannot choose a role. I can only reject a role. That freedom I have.

How often do you reject?

Saswata: Come to my home, I have those bundles of scripts that I have rejected. I told them to come and take them back. The character Bob that I played was a hit. The first time I played a villain who nobody will even consider him to be a villain.

When I played the role of Bob that surprised my wife as well. She didn’t know what I was playing.

Debatma, what was the process of directing the Bengal chapter?

Debatma: It actually came in very naturally because I am from Kolkata. And I have grown up seeing and hearing stories like this. You will get to see the pada (locality) culture in this show. It is a new concept because something like this has not been explored that much in Bengali cinema also in terms of film making. These gundas (criminals) are also loved because these pada (locality) dada’s are always there to help you out in times of need whether it is helping some elderly person to go to the hospital or lending a shoulder to carry a dead body. They are also loved by the people of the locality. You love them, but you also know that they are not the best fit in the society.

Jeet: These pada Gundas (criminals) are like Robin Hood. This is very fresh content for the global audience also. I play the role of Arjun Moitra, a sincere and honest cop.

Tell us about your role Pooja?

I play a very modern girl who is actually micro-managing her husband’s career and his life.  I play a very relatable character opposite Jeet. I play the calm in the chaos.

WATCH the trailer of Khakee: The Bengal Chapter here: