There comes a time when you come across a story that is riveting enough to leave you pondering how brutal life can be.Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi is one such film that sends chills down the spine of viewers, while staying true to its story and characters. Speaking of the characters, the protagonist of the story is played by Tama Mirza, a national award winner. Being a versatile artist from the get-go, Tama breaks down her process on how she knocked it out of the part through her character of Pakhi.

You have won the Critic’s Choice award in Blender’s Choice-The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards 2021. How does it feel to get recognition for such a popular role?

I feel overwhelmed with joy whenever one of my works is recognised for an award. This was particularly joyful because it’s the first ever OTT award hosted by The Daily Star, and winning an award makes me feel overwhelmed. Getting nominated for an award with some of the most renowned artists is a massive deal for me on its own; simply being here fills my heart with joy as I get to see amazing people doing fantastic things and get to learn so much.

What was the production phase like for Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi?

It’s a film we had to prepare very thoroughly. There was a lot of rehearsal work involved. We did not rush; we took our time to ensure everything went perfectly. Everything had a very authentic feel, from the scene in Karwan Bazar, to the rail station, and the factory in Rangpur. The locals helped us a lot, and the crowd was pretty helpful too. Usually, I feel distracted by the crowds, but not this time; they actually helped us out.

What was your process for preparing for such a demanding role?

We had to work under challenging conditions. The factory in Rangpur had been shut down for a long time. It didn’t have any fan, nor did it have any ventilation, and there was a lot of dust. We had to shoot in dirty conditions, but it was done to add a layer of authenticity to it. My clothes were genuinely dirty; I had to drink actual dirty water during a scene, and towards the end of the movie, we starved ourselves throughout the day because our characters were starving to death in the film. The director left no stones unturned to make everything look real.

How much do you identify with your character as a person?

You hear about garment workers and their struggles all the time; how they get mistreated, and how they are denied fundamental rights. How they fight for survival, risk their lives and work in terrible conditions. Yet, they keep on persevering so that the economy can move forward, so it was an honour to be able to play someone like that. I felt this role on a very personal level.

What roles do you get intrigued by?

I enjoy taking on challenging roles and exploring the industry’s non-commercial and non-glamorous side. I remember taking a role similar to this in Nodijon. We were out by the sea in the cold all day. We ate on the floor and only ate what the locals offered us. We only spoke in the local dialect, and it was pretty intriguing.

What’s next for Tama Mirza?

I want to keep working and keep pushing myself as far as possible as a professional. Women-centric roles are not that prevalent in our industries yet. I want to add to that by supporting strong, true and real stories that have the potential to be shown worldwide.

By K Tanzeel Zaman