It is good news for cinema lovers, as a nearly 25-year-old film has been released on YouTube. The movie features the late Irrfan Khan alongside Vidya Balan. The film, which Vidya did quite early in her
career and was shelved for more than two decades, will finally see the light of day after a long wait.
Written and directed by Sarthak Dasgupta, and produced by Neena and Sarthak Dasgupta, the film has been released as a tribute toIrrfan Khan on his death anniversary, adding a layer of poignancy to its long-awaited release.
The film had remained shelved for over two decades, as Sarthak, while waiting to find a release, had lost the footage of the film, until recently, when he found a VHS copy of it. This is also Sarthak’s debut film. He had just decided to become a filmmaker after quitting his corporate job following his engineering and MBA. Later, Sarthak went on to make films like the Netflix original Music Teacher, the Amol Palekar and Rinku Rajguru starrer 200 Halla Ho, and web series like Dharavi Bank, among others.
Reflecting on the film’s long journey to release, director Sarthak Dasgupta said, “I was a novice with everything to learn. I hadn’t assisted anyone. I hadn’t been to film school. There was no Amazon to order books from, no YouTube to watch tutorials. Fuelled by pure intuition, I had embarked on a journey, still unsure if it could become a career. Releasing this film now, as a tribute to Irrfan, makes it even more emotional. It feels like revisiting a forgotten dream.”
Vidya Balan, too, expressed a deep sense of nostalgia upon the film’s release. “It feels surreal to see The Last Tenant finally reach audiences. I was just starting out, trying to find my footing. Working with Irrfan was incredibly special then, and even more now, considering it’s the only time I got to share screen space with him. This film is a beautiful reminder of where it all began for me, and I’m glad it is being shared as a tribute to him.”
The film has been released under the aegis of Sarthak’s company, The Salt Inc. Within three days of its launch, the film’s views on YouTube have almost touched 2 lakh. For fans of Irrfan Khan, the release carries an added emotional weight.
