July 05, 2025 10:13 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Vijay named as TVK's CM face for upcoming Tamil Nadu polls | India says only Dalai Lama can decide his successor, China responds with warning | Pakistan had 30-45 seconds to respond: Shehbaz Sharif's aide on India's BrahMos attack during Op. Sindoor | Calcutta HC orders closure of all Bengal college union rooms until fresh elections in wake of Kolkata rape case | ‘We will cross that bridge when we come to it’: Jaishankar’s response on US bill proposing 500% tariffs | 'We slapped because of his attitude': MNS worker justifies assault on shopkeeper for not speaking Marathi | 'Marathi will have to be spoken in Maharashtra': State minister after MNS workers' assault on shopkeeper | PM Modi conferred with 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana' | Three Indian nationals abducted in Al-Qaeda-linked group's attack in Mali, MEA expresses 'deep concern' | Pune woman raped by man posing as delivery boy, police probe on
Sauraseni Maitra
Photography: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Shabash Feluda: Welcome constructive criticisms, not blind judgements, says Sauraseni Maitra

| @indiablooms | May 06, 2023, at 12:51 am

Bengali actor Sauraseni Maitra plays an IB officer in Zee5 web series Shabash Feluda, a contemporary version of the detective franchise Feluda. In an interaction with IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh, Sauraseni speaks on the online backlash over the inclusion of a female character in the series based on Satyajit Ray's Gangtoke Gondogol...

Q. What was your initial reaction when you heard a woman character was included into Shabash Feluda?

A. I was extremely happy and afraid at the same time. I always used to miss featuring in a film or a series on Feluda, who is my favourite detective character. I thank Zee5 and Arindam-da for making my dream come true.

Earlier women were mostly cast for ornamental roles in films but now the situation is changing with the discussions on feminism and women empowerment taking place. A lot of women directors are coming up with women-centric films. I am sure if Satyajit Ray had made Feluda now, he would have also included a woman character who would work with Feluda in tandem to solve a mystery.

Q. Do you think the resistance to contemporisation is coming more since Feluda is close to the audience's heart?

A. No one has replaced the soul of Feluda rather enriched it. I would suggest people, who are criticising Shabash Feluda, to watch the series first. Feluda is equally close to our hearts so we won't wrongly portray the iconic character.

Q. Do you think the resistance to the introduction of a female character is a reflection of a patriarchal society?

A. I feel it everyday actually. But I think the change is coming. People are taking the risks of contemporising subjects like Feluda. I always welcome constructive criticisms but not a blind judgements.

Q. Do you think women are well represented in Bengali OTT as compared to works in other languages?

A. To be honest, Bengal is lagging behind. But I won't say there is no improvement. There have been filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritu-da (Rituparno Ghosh), Arindam Sil, Srijit Mukherji have or are sketching beautiful women characters. Though we are lagging behind, our pace is improving

Q. How are you balancing your work pressure?

A. I am loving it. I am loving the constant hustle and my busy schedule. I don't want to waste a single day of my life. I just want to carry on with my work on good projects.

(Photography: Avishek Mitra/IBNS)

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Close menu