I grew up in Kolkata in a traditional family. We had friends who lived in mansions just like the one in 'Oleander Girl.' Growing up, I was fascinated by the old house and the old Bengal lifestyle.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Kolkata is a great city, has great food and great people. We had some problems finding the kind of old buildings we were looking for, and even handling the crowds, but on the whole it was fun shooting there.
Kolkata is a musical city. What I like about people here is the lack of diplomacy. Some of the best Indian classical musicians belong to this place. Kolkatans do not go by fashion, but by passion.
It is also very engaging - and a delight - to go back to Bangladesh as often as I can, which is not only my old home, but also where some of my closest friends and collaborators live and work.
I loved being in Bombay. It was a pretty thrilling place to walk around and explore.
My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great stability until the last century. People lived and intermarried in small villages.
I want to live in Kolkata; I don't want to live in Europe - I can't write there. I write in Bengali, and I need to be surrounded by the Bengali language and culture.
I do think of Bombay as my hometown. Those are the streets I walked when I was learning to walk. And it's the place that my imagination has returned to more than anywhere else.
West Bengal belongs to Bengalis. We should live here like a king and not as servants.
My parents' relationship with Kolkata is so strong. Growing up, the absence of Kolkata was always present in our lives.
I live in a neighborhood where there's a lot of West Indian culture, so it's nice.