Starmark, the leading bookstore chain, hosted the grand launch of Dr. Shoma A. Chatterji’s latest literary offering, ‘Amitabh Bachchan – As The Other’. The book launch ceremony was graced by superstar of Tollywood, Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee, Mr Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the esteemed Founder-Director of the Film Heritage Foundation & Ms Sudeshna Roy, accomplished filmmaker and advisor, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
This compelling work challenged conventional narratives surrounding the iconic actor, Amitabh Bachchan, shedding light on his multifaceted persona beyond the confines of the “Angry Young Man” stereotype. To prove this theory, Dr. Shoma A. Chatterji has analysed 15 of ‘Amitabh Bachchan ‘s classic performances in films beginning with Anand and closing with Agnipath spanning 20 years of his journey into the world of “The Other.” Other films in this study are – Parwana, Zanjeer, Saudagar, Namak Haram, Abhimaan, Deewar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Antony, Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Shakti, Coolie and Main Azaad Hoon. There is one chapter entitled “Othering the Other” which sums up a mellow Bachchan in characters he never dreamt of when he was young.
This marks a new journey for me as an author of books on Indian cinema. I tried to map out a completely different insight into the living legend Amitabh Bachchan. I have tried to draw him out of the “angry young man” box he was trapped in and prove that he is much more than the “angry young man”. He is “the other.” What does “the Other” mean? The book says it all through an analysis of 15 of his films between 1970 and 1991, said Dr. Shoma A. Chatterji, A Film Scholar, Author and Journalist
‘’Amitabh Bachchan – As The Other’ promises to be a captivating exploration of identity and representation in Indian cinema, inviting readers to embrace a more nuanced understanding of Amitabh Bachchan’s enduring legacy. This groundbreaking work challenged us to reconsider our understanding of one of Indian cinema’s most iconic figures, and we were honored to welcome such esteemed guests to Starmark for the momentous occasion,’ said Mr Gautam Jatia, CEO, Starmark ‘Amitabh Bachchan – As The Other’, published by Vitasta Books is available across book stores and online platforms and is priced at Rs 495.
