Internet Desk: Riingo Banerjee’s next directorial venture titled ‘Messi’ will see Aryann Bhowmik, Ranadeep Basu, Chaiti Ghoshal and Rana Mitra along with newcomer Aishika playing pivotal roles will get release on December.
Though named after Argentinian soccer icon Lionel Messi, the film will bring alive street soccer of Kolkata on screen. During the mahurat (first shot in shooting of a film in Indian cinema) of the film which recently took place in Kolkata, the director revealed to Washington Bangla Radio, “Messi is a story about two brothers. The elder brother Prosun doesn’t do anything except loitering around with his girlfriend and fixing local football matches for his brother from who he gets share of winning money. The younger brother Chotu, who wears the jersey titled Messi, is highly gifted in soccer skills. He is the pride of his family and the hope of their father who once used to be a football coach.”
“While attending one such match which Prosun arranges for Chotu, an accident happens and Chotu is left physically disadvantaged for life. The unfortunate incident fills Prosun with unfathomed guilt, and to get rid of this guilt he attempts to achieve the impossible. He attempts to step into his brother’s shoes.”
From where did you get this innovative concept? Riingo says, ” During the Argentina-Venezuela match at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2011, I did a promo shoot for ESPN on street football. Even, Anilava Da insisted me to get through this project. I am thankful to Kolkata Police too.”
The characters are also named as Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Mascherano etc so that it attracts the audience.
Before the release, the promotions and marketing will begin post Pujas. ” We are in a plan of organising a “Para Football tournament” before the release of the film named Macneill Cup. I already had a series of discussions with the members of Messi official fan club to bring them as well as from Barcelona.”