Moutushi Biswas makes a comeback with ‘Spotlight’

Since her first on-screen appearance in 2003, Moutushi Biswas garnered her career with well-known television fictions, reality shows, and movies. However, she was away from the limelight for one and a half years. Recently, she made a comeback with a strong role in "Spotlight", one of the three stories of the Bioscope original anthology series, "Bou Diaries".

Although she jumped into acting without any institutional background, she was inspired by eminent actors. At one point, she felt that television projects restricted her as an artiste in many ways. She wanted to explore other opportunities.

"I decided to have a much-needed break from my busy schedule. With the ongoing pandemic, I didn't have a choice either. I took virtual acting courses and master classes at home. I also found joy in reading," she says.

 Moutushi describes herself as a book collector. From literature to mythology, her shelf has books of different genres. She took part in acting workshops with Prachyanat and Bottola before the pandemic hit.

"There are certain methods of acting that need practice. We can't really acquire them just by reading scripts. I used to work quite intuitively, but now, I have a better understanding of the purpose of acting," she explains.

In "Spotlight", written by Matia Banu Shuku and directed by Sameer Ahmed, she plays Nabila, a middle-aged actor who deals with a media crisis. "I was elated to play Nabila not just because she was the protagonist of the story, but also because being in her shoes was a joyful experience," expresses Moutushi.  "I think our middle-age years are graceful and beautiful. There was a time when female actors were thought to have a shelf life, but I think things are changing for the better with characters like Nabila." Renowned actor Ahmed Rubel stars opposite Moutushi in "Spotlight".

"I had a wonderful experience with my co-actors, and the director was really supportive," says Moutushi. The subtlety with which she played Nabila in "Spotlight" is noteworthy.

A lesser known fact about her is that she is trained in martial arts and classical dance. "My father thought that martial arts were not for girls. I had some primary training, but I did not continue," she explains. "My daughter Arya, on the other hand, is an orange belt. When the pandemic subsides, I might start martial arts training again. I am indebted to Shampa apa (Shampa Reza), who always inspires me to learn new things." Moutushi also enjoys reading and cycling with her daughter. She expressed that she is ready to play more challenging characters, moving forward.

The author is an art researcher and writer in the making. Email: priyanka.chowdhury@gmail.com.