Mumbai: Celebrated actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, a towering figure in Bengali film industry, has ventured into the digital crime thriller genre with "Khakee: The Bengal Chapter", which premiered on March 20.
The series, a sequel to the critically acclaimed "Khakee: The Bihar Chapter", transitions the narrative landscape to Bengal, delving into the murky interplay of crime, politics and law enforcement.
Speaking to Money Control, Chatterjee revealed that it was the opportunity to collaborate with Pandey, a filmmaker known for his taut, socially resonant thrillers, that first piqued his interest.
"Firstly, I think it was Neeraj (Pandey). I've been trying to work with him. I have known him for a long time. And, of course, it's a Bengal chapter, which made me feel, if I'm there in this project, it's focusing on Bengal.
"I think of me, Jeet, and another lot of fantastic actors from Bengal and the story, which also tells a very different Bengal. A different part of Bengal. And the character itself, as you know, I've always been trying to do something that is different. It's a very strong character. Mhmm. And he's a wonderful director of a wonderful script. In fact, so many great actors together. So I just said yes, and I love that, the swag of the character," he remarked.
Chatterjee expressed enthusiasm about the portrayal of a different side of Bengal, noting, "I'm sure that this Bengal chapter will give us a lift in the commerce area of the cinema or show".
Portraying a powerful politician entangled in a nexus of crime and corruption, Chatterjee said he was drawn to the layered complexity of the character.
"Because a lot of great actors and technicians have shot the film in Bengal. It's not only the visual; a lot of great technicians have even been working on this. I think this exposure was very much needed. And where me, Jeet, Saswata Chatterjee, and Parambrata Chatterjee are all together, so it gets focused.
"I don't know why, but Bengal is classified as super intellectual. Of course, our cinema is intellectual. We have been doing that kind of stuff. But when it comes to commercials, I think the Bengal chapter will give us a breakthrough in that way, to get into that commercial mode. That's my personal take," he added.
Chatterjee also addressed the evolving dynamics of regional cinema and the democratising influence of OTT platforms, asserting that such media have enabled vernacular narratives to gain unprecedented visibility and global traction. He said Bengali cinema, long revered for its literary sophistication and philosophical undercurrents, is now poised to make its mark in the commercial mainstream without diluting its artistic ethos.
Set in the early 2000s, the series follow IPS officer Arjun Maitra as he takes on a criminal-political nexus that has gripped Bengal. This crime thriller is helmed by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray.
