My motto is to bring quintessential Bengali humour on screen, says Paka Dekha director Premendu Bikash Chaki

Director Premendu Bikash Chaki has started shooting his upcoming film Paka Dekha (2022), featuring Soham Chakrabroty, Susmita Chatterjee, Dipankar De, Dolon Roy, Sumanta Mukherjee, Kharaj Mukherjee and Laboni Sarkar.

A romantic comedy based on the Bengali custom of Paka Dekha — when the parents of the bride and groom meet and fix their marriage — the film is Chaki’s third as director after Honeymoon (2018) and the upcoming Love Marriage (2021).

“For the past two years, due to the pandemic, people have been living life in fear," he said. "News updates only increase our panic. I feel in this scenario people have forgotten how to laugh. But it is important to laugh every day. Spontaneous laughter can increase longevity as well. I want to make this film with these thoughts.”

Chaki wants to make more comedy films in the future. “My films don’t have villains and violence. I am quite sure that like my previous film, Paka Dekha will also be a family entertainer,” he said.

According to the cinematographer-turned-director, due to his long work experience in the industry, he has got some of the best artistes on board. “They are doing a brilliant job," Chaki said. "In comedy films, we know, timing is all important. Soham has been working in the industry for long and I have a friendly equation with him. With many of the senior actors, I have worked as DoP [director of photography], but this is my work with them as a director.”

Chaki conceived of the story keeping his cast in mind. Hence, he believes his job as director has become easier, because he is aware that the artistes are capable of pulling off those characters.

“Another big advantage is that we are on the same wavelength as artistes,” he said. "The way we spend our leisure during outdoor shoots amicably, we are shooting the film with a lot of enjoyment as well.”

Chaki said that for a long time now, the trend of comedy remakes has taken hold in the Bengali film industry. “However, I feel Bengali humour is very different and original. My motto is to bring those quintessential Bengali elements back on screen to entertain the audience,” he said.