Sunil Gangopadhyay's wife intrigued over 'Neera' portrayal

On the classic 'Aranyar Din Ratri' creator's 80th birth anniversary, the late Sahitya Akademy President's wife Swati Gangopadhyay says the first ever 3D contemporisations of Sunil's immortal Neera series perhaps lack the soul of a male romanticist who found mysticism in her sexuality.
"I don't like overt experimentation which stretches the concept far beyond the poet's mindscape. How can you hear 'Ei Haat Chhuyechhe Neerar mukh' recited in a female voice? It was a male romanticist's ode to his 'manosprotima' (lady love)," Swati, herself a poet and involved in the Krittivas poetry magazine movement of a rebellious Sunil Gangopadhyay decades back, told PTI today..

"Sunil did not sketch Neera having me in mind, or any other particular woman he had come across. Neera is the embodiment of his interpretation of feminine beauty. I liked the novelty in execution but if you put the lines dedicated to the poet's muse in a woman's mouth it fails to grasp Sunil's tryst with Neera," Swati said referring to 'Bristhi Bheja Neera' - the first ever 3D interpretation of Neera by Anti-Square Creations, on Thursday evening.
"I am, however, happy that the present day generation are still intrigued by Sunil and his Neera. As shown in numerous interpretations. But we should go by the poet's thoughts," Swati said. She recalled how Sunil would love to hunt for his space in between the hustle and bustle of city life during his literary journeys -poetic or otherwise.

Young elocutionist Bristi, a disciple of Bratati Bandyopadhyay, however reasoned she identified with Neera, a commonplace girl, who had learnt to hide her emotions, in the unique collage of colors, strokes on sand, light and shades and sound.