Corporate Impact
Cine Personality – Bengali films
Moubani Sorcar
Actor &
Classical Dancer
Our readers would like to know about your academic achievements.
I have always been a very artistic person so after my schooling at Modern High School in Kolkata, I studied English Honours in St. Xavier’s for one year and then shifted to Rabindra Bharati University with Drama Hons. and mass communication from where I completed graduation and masters, I had started to excel in studies, and extra curricular from my school life.
Why Moubani wanted to be an actor?
I always knew that arts would be my life, but when I went to St.Xavier’s, the film studies classes made me realise what I was cut out for, I was already in the show business atmosphere being a part of the world famous Sorcar family, and Magician P.C. Sorcar junior and Joysri Sorcar’s daughter, but as I started reading scripts from books in the book fair and offers were pouring in from my teens to act I thought of trying it out, and I loved it so much that I felt I was performing magic in a new way.
What was the reaction of your family when you decided to make your career as an actor?
My parents always knew I would be an Artiste and they knew better than me that I would become a movie actress. Unlike other families, they were very supportive and I feel their blessings always.
What is the importance of struggle period in your life from education to being a successful actor in Bangla films?
I did not quite struggle. It was more of a love affair. When you love your profession, all the hard work seems justified and just as a teenager; newly in love, I feel like the path the almighty has shown me I am only grateful for because my career blossomed with every effort I decided to make and I would never accept non competence as I felt when in love I had to be a responsible partner.
How was your experience working in your debut film “Badla”? How was the response from audience especially for your work?
I was not launched in Bengal, but worked in Nagpuri in a double role in a film called Jugni which was a ground breaking hit, then I was offered Pistol ego Prem Kahani, an art film in Bhojpuri where I had to act opposite three male protagonists. It was my performance in these two movies that film makers in Bengal started looking for me, up until then I had acted in no films in Bengal even though my telefilm on Tagore ” Dalia ” was the most watched film on Etv, but then in an audition for Badla, I performed well and director Anup Sengupta cast me opposite Bengali SuperStar Prosenjit Chatterjee in Badla which was my debut in Bengal.
Or else I would maybe have gone to Mumbai to work.
After working in Badla which is still one of the most popularly accepted films of Prosenit Chatterjee, declared a big hit, I won the best debutant
Uttam Kumar Awards as an actress. Encouraged by audiences and the love that they had shown me, I started working as a Bengali film actress in full swing.
Which films would you like to mention as most popular in your professional journey?
There have been many popular films, each very important and so difficult to name !
I have about forty of them in my head!
You have played multiple characters in different shades in Bangla films. What is the secret behind your perfection in acting?
I develop a very honest potrayal of any character and most importantly I try to keep my character sketch very entertaining, or else the audience’s excitement goes, I would love my audience to be excited to watch me every time!
Who is your favorite director in Bangla Film Industry and why?
My most favourite director is Tarun Majumdar, I love his use of simple sentiments and regret the fact that even though he cast me thrice I could never have the chance to perform in a film under his artistic advise.
What are your achievements as an Odissi dancer and live performer?
As a classical dancer, I have performed in several shows across the world giving solo performances and also with my mother Joysri Sorcar and sister Mumtaz Sorcar in different acts as an extention of our world famous magic show Indrajal. My Guru Muralidhar Majhi who trained me in Odissi also has asked me to perform classical acts in several prestigious strange shows. My father P.C.Sorcar junior in the presence of my late Guruji organised my first classical debut in front of an elite audience in Presidency College Auditorium which was graced by late Soumitra Chatterjee. I have performed solo Odissi performances for NewYork Television, Doordarshan and along with my mother and younger sister in Paris.
I have staged my own theatre written by my father P.C.Sorcar junior and directed, acted and danced by students of my school Pratibha in Children’s Little Theatre called Kachchu, Bibi and Twing.
In which stream you are more comfortable, dancing or acting? How do you relate your dancing skills with acting?
I think I am comfortable in both as I feel both can engulf each other. I feel that magical modes of expressing an emotion should never be rigidly confined to each type. It’s always comfortable to act whilst dancing or vice versa, dance whilst acting. For me it has to be the film never ending story as to me magic exists in reality.
Which is your own favorite non-fiction film?
And if you ask me about my own movies I would say Path Ghat directed by Partho Ganguly, which was a dark comedy for which I won a Best Actress award but incidentally I never had to act in the movie as the character of Meghla in the film was totally like me…so I guess I kind of fooled the audience!
Jokes apart… I felt being me onscreen was the most difficult.
In the field of acting, there is a lot of criticism also. How do you accept the same?
I love criticism, there is nothing wrong in people evaluating me, I feel it is natural and it helps an artiste to grow.
In your professional acting career, who supported you the most?
I feel it was my audience without whose love, support and admiration I would have been nothing today, it is for them that I wake up every morning and feel like doing something wonderful so that they may be entertained!
Moubani is an introvert or an extrovert by nature?
I am an extroverted introvert, as in when I reach out to people I feel at home.
But yes I value and respect privacy.
Which is your favorite costume, traditional or western? Which colour fascinates you the most?
I just love wearing the saree and blue is my most favourite colour. I find the colour to be ethereal.
You are always fit and energetic, What is the reason behind your fitness?
I think it has to be because I love movement!
I love to dance, run, do yoga and play some sport once in a while
Which award is very special to you for your contribution in Bangla Cinema?
It was the houseful halls, no award can be greater than that!
Are you interested in becoming a part of hindi cinema also?
I am looking for the right script to debut into Hindi films! Would love to work there.
Please tell us about your upcoming projects.
I have written my first book called Rainbows Unlimited by Roderang Publication’s which will be published shortly. Also, I am coming up with 2 new films in two languages in which I have never worked before, also I have 5 Bengali films releasing shortly, Pala Bodol, Alor disha, Oporadhi, Golpey morano Chupkotha, to name a few.
I have my own dance recitals coming up and also the radio show in the evenings for 92.7 Big FM as their station celebrity jock.
My first canvas art exhibition is also on tour called “Magnetism.”
What is your message for your fans globally?
I would love to give hope to the audiences globally to keep on believing in the magic of life and to trust it to be an extraordinary place. Just that one must believe in one thing and that is to believe in magic and the rest follows.
