Sekhar Das to bring Badal Sircar's Pagla Ghora to life on screen in birth centenary tribute
Sekhar Das is directing a cinematic adaptation of Badal Sircar's renowned play, 'Pagla Ghora,' as a tribute to the playwright's birth centenary. This film, starring Gargee Roychowdhury and an ensemble cast, aims to reinterpret Sircar's critique of societal hypocrisy for a modern audience.
Filmmaker
Sekhar Das
is set to direct
Pagla Ghora
, a powerful adaptation of
Badal Sircar
's iconic 1960s play, as a cinematic tribute marking the playwright's birth centenary this year. One of Sircar's most searing and celebrated works,
Pagla Ghora
is a fearless critique of patriarchal hypocrisy and emotional repression — themes that continue to resonate deeply even today.
A pivotal figure in Indian theatre, Badal Sircar revolutionised performance art through his radical
Third Theatre
movement in the 1970s, breaking away from proscenium norms to engage more directly with the public. Das, who was closely associated with that very movement and has staged several of Sircar's works over the years, is now ready to reimagine
Pagla Ghora
for a new generation of viewers.
'This film is not a mere translation of a play into cinema.
It is a re-interpretation — both faithful and fearless — of Sircar's spirit, his angst, and his brilliance,' said the director.
The film stars
Gargee Roychowdhury
in the lead, alongside an ensemble cast including
Rajatava Dutta
, Sujan Mukhopadhyay, Chandreyee Ghosh, Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Dirghoee Pal, Srijata Saha, and Jayanta Hore.
Calling the film 'an enduring mirror to society,' Gargee emphasized that this adaptation is a collective effort to honour Sircar's legacy and vision.
Supratim Bholl will serve as Director of Photography, with music by Indraadip Dasgupta and editing by Arghya Kamal Mitra. The shoot begins today in and around Kolkata
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