Return of youth to theatres makes me happy: Jyoti

Jyotika Jyoti started her film career with the film ‘Ayna’ directed by Kabori Sarwar in 2005. In her career, she was mostly seen in liberation war-based films like ‘Rabeya’, ‘Jibondhuli’ and Anil Bagchir Ekdin’. Recently government-grant winning film ‘Lal Moroger Jhuti’ directed by Nurul Islam Atique has been released in theatre. In a candid conversation with The Business Post’s Antara Raisa, she shared the experience of working in ‘Lal Moroger Jhuti’

The Business Post: Your film ‘Lal Moroger Jhuti’ has released on Friday? How are you feeling? What was the reaction of the audience?

Jyoti: I am feeling great after seeing the reactions from the audience. They are appreciating the film a lot. The younger generation is coming to theatres to watch the film and it really makes me happy. They are saying that without showing the war scene the film gave them the feeling that they were watching a film on liberation war. I am actually very happy getting praised for my character too.

TBP: Tell us the background story of joining the film?

Jyoti: Nurul Alam Atique is that kind of director with whom the artistes feel lucky to work with. He always chooses his cast according to the character. When he chose me for the character, I didn’t say no. I also worked behind the camera. I helped him with the screenplay, distribution and government grant application. Initially, I was supposed to act as another character but later Nurul Alam Atique told me to do the character ‘Dipali Shaha’. That’s how I joined the film.

TBP: Tell us about your character?

Jyoti: I can’t disclose any details about my character. You have to come to the theatre to know more. But I can say that Dipali is a character of a married woman.

TBP: How did you take the preparation for your character?

Jyoti: Every character needs preparation. When you work with Nurul Islam Atique’s film, he makes sure that you fully absorb the character. He makes the artistes live in their character. Normally in this type of film, directors get more concerned about the get up. But he always focuses on the mental state of the character. Sometimes he isolated me in a room with no one just to make me involved with the character. Apart from this, I had my own preparations for the character.

TBP: How was the shooting experience?

Jyoti: The shooting experience was good. We had filmed some scenes in Kushtia. During the shooting, we went to Lalol Shah’s shrine. That was a special experience for me. Some scenes were also shot in my locality. That was also a fun and interesting experience for me. People in my area had seen shooting for the first time. Some people were also part of the film. The first scene of the film starts with the view of an abandoned house which is actually a school of Gouripur.

TBP: How was the working experience with director Atique?

Jyoti: As a director, he is very strict and serious on the set. He is also very dedicated. Working with him is a constant learning process.

TBP: You have mostly worked in the liberation war-based films like ‘Rabeya’, ‘Jibondhuli’ and Anil Bagchir Ekdin’. This film is also a liberation war-based film. Is there any special reason behind it?

Jyoti: Most directors choose me for this type of role actually. Maybe they find me very calm and quiet which gives a vibe of a typical Bengali woman. Once Kabori Sarwar told me that my face represents the whole of Bangladesh. When I was filming for ‘Jibondhuli’, director Tanvir Mokammel said that my face is a classical face that goes with that character. Maybe that’s because most directors choose me for this type of character.