Kerala mystique

The chemistry was palpable, but the mystery was intact when t2 got actors Raima Sen and Anirban Chakrabarti at the Taj Bengal for an exclusive pre-release shoot of The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra. After unravelling mysteries across Bengal, our beloved trio of the Eken franchise — Eken, Bapi and Pramatha — embarks on a new adventure in the enchanting landscapes of ‘God’s Own Country’ this time. The much-awaited return of the franchise on the big screen is brimming with mystery, action, and comedy, released regionally on October 15, followed by a nationwide release the next day. While the diverse landscape of Kerala adds to the adventurous soul of the film, the layered performances of its characters heighten the mystery. Raima Sen makes her debut within the franchise, adding an air of intrigue to the narrative with her appearance.

For the lookbook, we opted for three sets of style, blending Western and Indo-Western outfits with classic Indian ethnic wear, all wrapped in a palette of white and gold that beautifully complements the Kerala setting of the film and the festive spirit in the city now.

Raima and Anirban

A t2 chat with Raima and Anirban...What was special about The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra?

Anirban: The film’s canvas is much bigger this time. There are many more twists we haven’t seen in Eken films before. And the alliterative name really justifies the film for the action-packed sequences.

Raima: Joydeep (Mukherjee) told me about Eken. But nothing was working out. My friends who don’t watch Bengali films knew about it. My mother is a huge fan of Eken and started telling everyone that I would be working with him. I had not watched any of the films before. So I started watching them with Mom. And I am very happy to be a part of this popular franchise and to be able to act with Anirban.

What was your bond on the sets like?

Anirban: We were too busy with the film to have fun… I had heard about Raima being a prankster on set, but I haven’t witnessed it. She came very prepared with her part. She is very disciplined, genuine and down-to-earth. I also loved the weather in Kerala as we were shooting during the monsoon.

Raima: He is saying all good things about me now but he didn’t say anything on the sets! But honestly, I think he is great fun to work with. He has got this sense of humour which I can relate to. And he is not the Eken we see in the movie or in the series. He is completely different. He is also very serious, by the way. And he can get angry if he wants... if I bug him too much! And if you have a good co-actor, then obviously everything else is easy and your performance also becomes better.

How experimental are you with fashion beyond your films?

Raima: I keep seeing myself reinventing on Instagram. Different designers, different clothes. I do that a lot for Instagram. I am quite experimental but I am not into trends.

Anirban: I usually follow my comfort style. But this year for Puja, I did experiment quite a bit for editorials, going beyond my usual looks of denim paired with a T-shirt or cotton shirt.

Raima: Yes, he is Eken, and he has to solve cases, so he has to be comfortable!Costumes: Label Tanmay Biswas
Styling: Tanmay Biswas
Make-up: Sourab Mitra
Hair: Mousami Chhetri
Location: Taj Bengal