South African actor David James recollects 'magical experience' of acting in Amazon Obhijaan

It was a ‘magical experience’ for South African actor David James who plays one of the important characters in the most expensive Bengali film so far, Amazon Obhijaan.

Talking to DNA from South Africa over phone he said that after playing a cameo in its prequel Chander Pahar, he was convinced by how director Kamaleswar Mukherjee had paid attention to little details before he agreed to sign what he defines as an ‘Indian Indiana’ film. “He is a sensitive director who had brought out the little nuances of the characters. The way I look at it is that it is an Indian Indiana Jones film,” James said. While the lead role of Shankar is played by Dev, James plays the role of Marco Florian, who is a music conductor by profession but has great affinity for archaeology and adventure.

In the movie he plays the father of Anna Florian who is the love interest of Shankar and together they go on a quest for the mythical city of El Dorado. In the film the 45-year-old plays a character about 10 years older than he actually is an has a not-so-good relationship with Anna because she has chosen a man who he doesn’t like. That triggers a hate-hate relationship with Shankar (Dev) right from the word go. James had to work on the language for several weeks before he started working and finds the language fascinating.

“I spent about four weeks in South Africa prior to beginning of the film and then when I came to India, here too, I was helped with my dialogues and diction. From what I have learnt of the language, I find it beautiful and descriptive and almost like the French of the East,” he told DNA. Talking about the difference in how the Bengali film industry works in comparison to Hollywood, James said, “A lot of work is packed in a day’s shoot. Again I have not seen people working so diligently as if giving it their best is what only matters. The film has a childlike quality, not childish mind you, which brings about a magical quality of what happens and the treatment gives it a slightly theatrical aspect.” The production company SVF Entertainment Private Limited had made the film at an expense of about Rs 20 crore making it the most expensive Bengali film. “I am not surprised it is the most expensive film. We shot for about one month in Brazil and then later to different places across India,” he said. James is likely to arrive in Kolkata on December 22, the day the film releases. “I am particularly fond of Kolkata. One because English here is better than any part of India that I have visited and two because of the delicacies it has to offer, particularly fish and ‘misti doi’,” he said.