La Libertad: Where are you from?
Aparna: I was born and raised in Kolkata, India also known to be the cultural capital of India.
La Libertad: How did you get your start in producing?
Aparna: It was a natural progression from distributing movies to start making films. I grew up watching films, and picked up film studies during my higher education. I have always been passionate about films and wanted to make good films.
La Libertad: Of what accomplishment are you most proud?
Aparna: The best accomplishment is yet to come, but it was an extremely satisfying experience to produce our first film Yours Truly, which we were not only able to make the way we wanted to tell the story, but also how the film traveled to [the] Busan International Film Festival and other prestigious film circuits globally. We did extremely well in terms of the commercial aspects of the film, which our investors were really happy about.
La Libertad: Where did the idea for Bandit Queen of Bengal come from?
Aparna: We have been listening to lot of scripts over the last couple of years, but wanted to wait for the one which we feel most passionate about. So, when the Director Subhrajit Mitra approached us, we instantly liked it, and wanted to see it get made. It’s been the seventy-fifth year of Indian independence, and the script couldn’t have been any better timed. I always have had a liking towards periodic movies - especially the ones based on great novels like Bandit Queen of Bengal, which finds its root in the classic novel Devi Chowdhurani by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. If we look at the documented, Indian freedom movements, we normally find [them] telling stories of male freedom fighters who we have deepest respect towards, but there were many women, too, who [made] extreme sacrifice[s] for their motherland, and, at the same time, showed supreme leadership qualities in driving the movement which can be an inspiration for women of present days, too. As a female Producer, I am constantly looking to highlight those stories.
La Libertad: What would you consider an ideal distribution plan for the film?
Aparna: No distribution plan can be called ideal till it works out successfully. For Bandit Queen of Bengal, we will be doing an extensive theatrical release, both in India and overseas (U.S.A., U.K., Germany, France, Australia, Middle East, et cetera) with large Indian diaspora. We also would be looking to represent India in prestigious international film markets like Cannes (the motion teaser of the film was unveiled at Cannes this year), and working with international sales agents for global [sales]/distribution.
We will also be looking for digital streamers/platforms, DVD, [and] video rental markets to distribute the film effectively.
La Libertad: What inspires you?
Aparna: Any good performance and any well made films inspire me.
La Libertad: What are you most looking forward to, in 2023?
Aparna: I am looking [forward] to...filming Bandit Queen of Bengal. It’s a massive project, and something that has not been attempted too often. The scale and the grandeur of the film will be testing our best skills, and the fact that, as an entertainment industry, we are still recovering from the pandemic aftermath, makes it all the more challenging.
La Libertad: What are your overall career goals?
Aparna: I want to see myself as a successful Producer, having a slate of films that appeals to global audiences. I particularly like films based on novels, and look forward to be bringing such films to life, while backing talents and creators.
La Libertad: What links would you like to share?
Aparna: I can be reached at:
www.facebook.com/apu.dg1
La Libertad: What else, if anything, would you like to tell our readers?
Aparna: Our industry is going through a lot of changes, many of which are expected with time. We all need to adapt, and keep backing meaningful content. One thing that will probably always stay the same is people’s willingness to listen to great stories, and heroic characters who inspire us in all spheres of life.
Thanks...
Edited by William Mortensen Vaughan
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