Actor Saswata Chatterjee who is not so active on social media will be soon seen in a film titled Tarikh which revolves around social media. The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with the talented actor in an exclusive chat about his upcoming Bengali film. Excerpts..

You are not so active on social media and yet you feature in a film revolving around social media. What do you have to say about it?

Saswata Chatterjee- Yes this is true that I am not an active social media user. I have a Facebook page though. That I had to open because many people were opening fake profiles and doing unwanted things with it. As far as the film is concerned, Churni has done a wonderful job with the film. Many dates are considered important while some are not considered important. Today is important because I am giving interviews but this day next year may not be important. The director has dealt with the issue beautifully and in a sensitive manner.

The film shows the good sides of social media. As a limited user, have you ever experienced such good sides of social media?

Saswata Chatterjee- I am not there in the social media but all I can say is you can learn so much about the world with the help of social media. The world is in your hands. These are the good things. However the bad side is whether one has the ability to digest the good things. Not all people can take things in a good way. If this can be used correctly, it will be a powerful medium. In the future, the power of social media will increase very much.

Tell us something about your character in the film.

Saswata Chatterjee- I play the role of a professor who is loved by his students. He has a family consisting of his wife and child. Though he is not satisfied with some things happening around him, he does not say anything about it.

You have worked with Churni Ganguly in Nirbashito. How has she evolved as a director in Tarikh?

Saswata Chatterjee- I will say she has evolved much more as a writer. In Nirbashito she dealt with an issue which was known to all. But this film deals with an issue which she has handled with so much sensitivity. This is how she has evolved. She knows what she wants. She describes a scene to an assistant director and it is up to that person how he/she will execute that on screen.

The film was shown at the Kolkata International Film Festival and people sat on the stairs to watch the film. There was pin drop silence after the film ended. That speaks a lot about the film.

After getting such a positive response at a film festival, what are your expectations from the film?

Saswata Chatterjee- Yes, I am very much hopeful that the film will do well. The success of Nagarkirtan has proved that people are watching good films. You cannot fool an audience to watch a film. You can promote a film in many ways but if the film is not good, then the audience will not watch it. But if the film is good, then success will be yours!!

We too hope that Saswata Chatterjee achieves success with Tarikh!!