Shontaan

Shontaan
Directed by	Raj Chakraborty
Screenplay by	Sreejib Raj Chakraborty Additional screenplay: Anuja Chattopadhyay
Dialogues by	Sreejib Additional dialogues: Anuja Chattopadhyay
Story by	Soumyabrata Rakshit Raj Chakraborty Sreejib
Produced by	Shrikant Mohta Mahendra Soni
Starring	Mithun Chakraborty Ritwick Chakraborty Subhashree Ganguly Anashua Majumdar Sohini Sengupta Kharaj Mukherjee Biswajit Chakraborty Ahana Dutta
Cinematography	Manas Ganguly
Edited by	MD. Kalam
Music by	Songs Jeet Gannguli Background score Amit Chatterjee
Production company	Shree Venkatesh Films
Distributed by	Shree Venkatesh Films
Release date	20 December 2024 (2024-12-20)
Running time	130 minutes
Country	India
Language	Bengali

Shontaan is an upcoming 2024 Indian Bengali-language legal drama film co-written and directed by Raj Chakraborty. Produced by Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni under the banners of Shree Venkatesh Films, it stars Mithun Chakraborty, Ritwick Chakraborty and Anashua Majumdar in the lead roles, while Sohini Sengupta, Kharaj Mukherjee, Biswajit Chakraborty and Ahana Dutta (in her debut) play another pivotal roles, with Subhashree Ganguly in a special appearance.

The film was officially announced in December 2023 under the tentative title Mahaguru 357, as it is the 357th film of Mithun Chakraborty as lead actor, and also the 165th production of Shree Venkatesh Films. Principal photography commenced in March 2024, while the official title was announced in April 2024 and ended in June 2024, with filming taking place in Kolkata predominantly. Music of the film is scomposed by Jeet Gannguli, while cinematography and editing were handled by Manas Ganguly and MD. Kalam respectively.

Shontaan was initially planned for release coinciding with Durga Puja, but was postponed due to unfinished post-production work. Later, it is scheduled to be released worldwide on 20 December 2024 in theatres on Christmas, along with Khadaan.

Cast

• Mithun Chakraborty as Sharadindu Bose
• Ritwick Chakraborty as Indrajit Bose, Sharadindu's son
• Anashua Majumdar as Mrs. Bose
• Sohini Sengupta
• Kharaj Mukherjee as Indrajit's lawyer
• Biswajit Chakraborty as Sharadindu's son
• Ahana Dutta as Indrajit's wife

Special appearance

• Subhashree Ganguly as Adv. Indrani Sen

Production

Development

In August 2023, it was reported that Raj Chakraborty would reunite with Dev for his next directorial post the critically acclaimed Chaamp (2017). It was considered to be an action film under the production of Shree Venkatesh Films. Raj also confirmed the reunion in an interview during the promotion of his web debut Abar Proloy (2023). He further stated in September 2023 that he narrated the script to Dev, who liked the concept but had to approve it back due to his other commitments. After his opting out, there was a rumour of Raj's collaboration with Prosenjit Chatterjee for the film, and was also reported the comeback of Chatterjee in the action genre after a long time. But Raj broke the silence citing the news to be fake.

In November 2023, sources claimed that Mithun Chakraborty would be seen under Raj's direction for the film, marking his first collaboration with Chakraborty in a feature film. Rumours were that he might be seen playing a police officer in the film.

Shontaan is the first collaboration between Mithun Chakraborty and Raj Chakraborty.

Pre-production

Initially in 2013, Chakraborty was approached to star in Proloy by Raj, however due to issues between Chakraborty and the producer, he left the film and later got replaced by Paran Bandyopadhyay. In November 2023, Raj reportedly narrated it to Chakraborty, who was impressed by the script and immediately gave his nod. Besides, it was reported to be the third installment of the Fatakeshto franchise. Later in January 2024, it was revealed that the film will be a courtroom drama, not an action film.

Indraadip Dasgupta was considered to score the music for the film, but Jeet Gannguli was finalised due to Dasgupta's commitments with other films. It marks Gannguli's sixth collaboration with Raj, as well as in their reunion 7 years after Chaamp in 2017. In January 2024, the technical crew including editor MD. Kalam and dance choreographer Baba Yadav were announced to have been retained by Raj, after they previously worked in Abar Proloy. Cinematographer Manas Ganguly and fight master Judo Ramu were hired for the film the same month.

On 4 February 2024, Shree Venkatesh Films officially announced its four upcoming mega projects, one of which was this film.

Casting

On 23 February 2024, Ritwick Chakraborty was revealed to be a part of the film, marking his fifth collaboration with Raj Chakraborty. He was reported to play Mithun Chakraborty's son in the film. The same month, Subhashree Ganguly was signed for an important role in her seventh film with Raj. Moushumi Chatterjee was reported to be approached for the female lead opposite Chakraborty, but got replaced by Anashua Majumdar the same month.

In March 2024, Biswajit Chakraborty and Soma Chakraborty were revealed to star in the film, while telivision actress Ahana Dutta also joined the cast marking her debut on the big-screen. For comic dynamic roles, Biswanath Basu and Kharaj Mukherjee was rumoured to be in the film, while Raj confirmed the latter's involvement for an important role with the film, but not for any comic role.

Filming

“He is a one-take artiste and as a person directing him, you cannot be confused. You must be well-prepared and do your homework. We have been associated with each other since 2006 but this will be our first fictional project together. When he gives a shot, I stay mesmerised. There have been shots where I have ended up crying after seeing him on the camera as Mithun Da acted in a nostalgic scene! It is through all our combined efforts that we will deliver a good film and I am very excited that I am working with SVF after a long time and they have trusted me with the responsibility of making a film on such a topic,”

— Raj Chakraborty on his shooting experience with his idol Mithun Chakraborty at T2 Online

Principal photography was scheduled to begin on 1 March 2024 in Kolkata, but ultimately began on 14 March, due to Mithun Chakraborty's unfinished commitments with Shastri (2024). A week later, some indoor sequences featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Ritwick Chakraborty and Biswajit Chakraborty were filmed at an apartment in Rajarhat. On 22 March, the team shot a long conversation scene at the ninth floor of an office at Salt Lake. The schedule concluded by 30 March. On 20 April, the filming began at NT-1 Studio in Kolkata to shoot some minor scenes starring Ritwick Chakraborty, Anashua Majumdar, Sohini Sengupta and Ahana Dey. On 2 June 2024, Jeet Gannguli revealed that the film would have at least four songs, one of which he recorded with Amit Kumar. He also added that the song would be featured on Durga Puja and also considered it to be a dance song. Kumar was reported to be excited to sing the song as it was the third devotional song in his whole career after the R. D. Burman composition "Bhulini Maa Dure Theke" and "Tui Jodi Go Mahamaya", from the film Andha Bichar (1990), again starring Mithun Chakraborty.

Filming took place at the Calcutta High Court

After the completion of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, filming resumed with Mithun Chakraborty in late June 2024. On 23 June 2024, a special set for the filming of the Durga Puja song, was befittingly decorated at NT-1 Studio, Kolkata. At least 15 Dhak players and 200 background dancers were hired, with whom Mithun Chakraborty had danced, under the supervision of choreographer Baba Yadav. In this schedule, a one-take hand-to-hand combat sequence designed by fight master Judo Ramu, was picturised on Mithun Chakraborty. After a short break, filming resumed on 1 July 2024, to shot the courtroom scenes were shot at the Kolkata High Court. There Subhashree Ganguly joined the schedule. A leaked picture of Ganguly, taken by paparazzi, revealed her role as a lawyer, while Kharaj Mukherjee was also spotted in the spot. ACP Alok Sanyal of Lalbazar, was confirmed to be present there to play a pivotal role in the film. A special set for the courtroom scenes, was designed by the production designer duo Mridul and Saswati. The filming continued for six days there. On 8 July 2024, a long conversation scene between Mithun Chakraborty and Ritwick Chakraborty was shot and finally wrapped up.

Soundtrack

Shontaan
Soundtrack album by Jeet Gannguli
Recorded	2024
Studio	Playhead Studio
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Language	Bengali
Label	SVF Music
Producer	Jeet Gannguli

The music of the film has been composed by Jeet Gannguli, in his reunion with Raj Chakraborty seven years after Chaamp in 2017. The lyrics have been penned by Priyo Chattopadhyay.

The first single "Thakur Thakbe Kotokkhon" was released on 16 November 2024.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Thakur Thakbe Kotokkhon"	Priyo Chattopadhyay	Amit Kumar, Jeet Gannguli	2:55
Total length:				2:55

Marketing

The first look poster of Shontaan was unveiled by the makers, which got mixed response from the viewers. The official trailer of was released on 1 November, coinciding with Kali Puja.

Release

Shontaan is scheduled to be theatrically released on 20 December 2024, coinciding with Christmas.

External link

• Shontaan at IMDb