Director Sen refutes producer's 'crap script' claim

Filmmaker Sudipto Sen has responded to his 'The Kerala Story' producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah's criticism regarding Sen's script for the sequel, 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond.' Sen stated that Shah's claims of the script being substandard are untrue and that he has evidence, in the form of email exchanges, to support his assertion.

Sen, who has a history of collaboration with Shah on films like 'The Kerala Story' and 'Bastar,' expressed his respect for the producer but emphasized the need for responsible conduct when public scrutiny arises. He indicated a reluctance to create controversy despite the producer's remarks.

The director's current project is 'Charak,' a film inspired by the Charak festival, which he recalls from his childhood in rural Bengal. The festival, celebrated in the Chaitra month, features vibrant cultural practices alongside darker elements like alleged cannibalism and human sacrifices, even though Aghori practices are officially banned.

Sen explained that 'Charak' was made because of the societal dichotomy between scientific advancement and persistent superstition. He noted that despite the ban, such practices continue, referencing an incident in 2024 where a schoolboy was allegedly sacrificed due to poor examination results.

Regarding the production of 'Charak,' Sen mentioned he needed a break after extensive work on previous films. He entrusted director Shiladitya Moulik with directing the film, based on Sanjay Haldar's short story, while Sen remained involved in post-production. The cast primarily consists of actors from the National School of Drama, chosen for their dialect suitability.