Despite being friends for over 30 years, the bond between Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Rajatava Dutta has always been a quiet, enduring mutual admiration club. Now, they have finally collaborated on the film Phool Pishi O Edward, co-directed by Shiboprosad and Nandita Roy.
A Friendship Rooted in Theatre
Shiboprosad recalled, "My first memory of Rajatava Dutta — Ronida — goes back three decades, to the rehearsal room of Bonolota O Tar Premikera, directed by Ishita Mukhopadhyay. On stage was a young actor — restless, electric — doing somersaults, leaping into dance, pushing himself relentlessly to get it right." Life moved on, and both found their own journeys, occasionally crossing paths through work, always holding deep respect for each other from a distance.
Rajatava shared his own history with Shiboprosad — his "first friend" in Kolkata. They did theatre together, spent endless hours in conversation, and grew up around the same creative energy. Rajatava watched Shiboprosad evolve — patiently, persistently — into the filmmaker he is today. Yet, despite that closeness, they never worked together. Timing, circumstances — life had its own script.
The Long-Awaited Collaboration
When Shiboprosad finally cast Rajatava in Phool Pishi O Edward, the reunion was more than professional — it was deeply personal. They met, embraced, and in that moment, years seemed to dissolve. "At last," they said.
Shiboprosad noted, "On set, Ronida remains unchanged in the ways that matter — deeply meticulous, immersed in the craft, always searching for something new. His conversations begin and end with performance. He still prioritises theatre, still uplifts co-actors, still carries that infectious, open smile. Watching Shyamoupti Mudly perform, he quietly remarked, 'I hadn’t seen her before — she acts very well.'"
For Shiboprosad, directing one of his most admired actors after 30 years brought a quiet thrill. For Rajatava, beginning a new creative chapter with an old friend felt like a celebration. In a world often crowded with noise, theirs remains a bond built on respect, patience, and love for the art — proof that sometimes, the most meaningful collaborations simply take time.
