Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore is making a comeback on the big screen after 14 years and she is very clear about her choices – “Not the usual bhabhi, mother and grandmother roles for me, I would like to pick only character-driven roles.” After Gulmohar (co-starring Manoj Bajpayee, released on OTT, 2022) a family drama that won many accolades including the Best Hindi Film at the 70th National Film Awards, Tagore will be seen in a slice-of-life drama Outhouse (co-starring Dr Mohan Agashe) that offers a peek into the lives of Nana (played by Dr Agashe), Aadima (Sharmila Tagore), and her 'grandson' Neel (Jihan Hodar) as they set out on a heartfelt quest to locate their missing dog, Pablo.
As gathered from the trailer, Tagore is a grandmother who takes care of her grandson as her son and daughter-in-law live away. Their life takes an unexpected turn when Neel’s pet dog Pablo takes refuge in Nana’s home, a reclusive old man in their neighbourhood who is dealing with personal challenges. “Outhouse (releases on December 20) is a very simple story, it is very real life and nothing dramatic,” says the actress, who is excited about the big screen release after a long gap. Her last theatrical release was Break Ke Baad in 2010 alongside Deepika Padukone and Imran Khan.
“It is a good feeling obviously because the appeal of the big screen is much more as compared to small screen. Of course, OTT has its own advantages as we can watch movies at home as per our own convenience. You could be relaxing, take a break for food, pause and watch it another time but actually watching a film in full house with lots of people at the same time is a different experience. You are feeling the same emotion, reacting at the same time... all that has a tremendous charm and that can’t be replicated at home with so much disturbance. I think the best possible way of watching a film is on the big screen because of proper sound, enjoying good camera work, cinematography... and that is where the work is truly appreciated. The audience reaction is very heartwarming with so many people reacting… when they are laughing, enjoying or losing interest... it is a kind of universal reaction. I love watching a film with the audience," says Tagore.
Someone who made her debut with Satyajit Ray's 1959-release Bengali film Apur Sansar at the age of 13 and went on to play some really powerful women-centric roles that became significant milestones in her career in films like Anupama, Aradhana, Devi, Amar Prem, and Mausam among many others, is extremely happy about the portrayal of women in cinema today vis-à-vis in the previous decades. She specifically gives examples of films like Deepika Padukone’s Piku and recent release Crew that starred Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon in the lead.
“Presentation of women and their roles have gotten really better than what it was in our times. We just copiously cried all the time; we played only weepy roles. Piku couldn’t have been made in our time because nobody would have believed that a woman can look after her father. In fact, working women in earlier films were frowned upon. The money of a working woman was welcomed but she was not welcomed, she was called a fallen woman. Meghe Dhaka Tara and many of Mrinal Sen’s films deal with this issue. The whole scenario has changed... look at this movie Crew... three women are having a ball, it is so refreshing to see that. They are landing a plane, carrying off a heist... these roles were unimaginable for us. That way people are accepting of women having an affair, extra-marital affair... all that is kind of understood. After the 90’s when the films opened up and we saw a lot of foreign films, Hollywood films... that is when we saw a lot of churning in the audience. The audience today is much more accepting. They are better prepared and open to accept new plots. The audience of today has more appetite for different kinds of films and OTT has normalised a lot of this,” says Tagore.
Tagore’s method of selecting a film may have remained the same over the years but she is particular about going for character-driven age-appropriate roles. “Of course, at this point it has to be something that I feel will suit me and something that I have not done before... there is no point in playing the usual mother or bhabhi or grandmother roles. If there is a character that I am playing then most certainly I am interested in that. I have done a Bengali film recently (Puratawn) and that also is different, it is the beginning of dementia and how one changes... it is a mother-daughter story. Outhouse had that opportunity and I loved the script, this film is a beautiful reminder that life always has surprises in store, no matter your age.” says the actress. “Of course, I must like the director; I must like the people I am working with but the main factor is the script and you must have faith in the director and how he is thinking. I usually want the director to narrate the story, you get an idea of how he feels about the film, you understand the pauses... it is always a risk you don’t know but somehow you get a feeling how it will work out, that is how I judge a film,” she adds.
Tagore says, one of the important factors that keeps her going is adapting to change and responding positively to new situations and challenges. “Staying relevant is very important. For this you must have young friends and understand the way they are thinking. Besides taking inspiration from books, movies, people ...I love spending time with people younger than I ...I love interacting with all age groups …from my grandchildren to my children, I enjoy their conversation. It is very good and important to have intergenerational interactions to stay relevant. Listening to them, absorbing and understanding what they are trying to say. You need to show interest that yes, you are ready to change. Some people want to stay young forever which is not possible. Mr Amitabh Bachchan was a hero once upon a time and how he changed his image. KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) helped him do that and he made a space for himself in everybody’s heart –young, old, everybody,” says Tagore, who picked up certain nuances and experiences from time spent with her grandchildren for her role in Outhouse.