Humans, flora, fauna must live in harmony: Jaya Ahsan
The normally busy actress Jaya Ahsan has ample time on her hands with the coronavirus outbreak, but she is not one to stay idle. She has been feeding stray dogs on the streets. Her movie ‘Kantha’ has been released on a streaming site recently. She talks to Prothom Alo about how she is dealing with these difficult days.
Q: Coronavirus has brought everything to a halt. What have you been doing?
Jaya Ahsan: Doing as best as I can under the circumstances. I just got news that one of my relations in New York died of coronavirus. They were such a happy family. I am deeply saddened.
Q: What have your feelings been, while the entire world is fighting against coronavirus?
Jaya Ahsan: Humans have violated humanity. We are humans, children of Nature. Yet we have been destroying Nature. We are destroying forests. We have made so many animals extinct. It is only natural that we will fall victim to Nature’s vengeance. The whole world is now helpless in the face of a microorganism. Yet there is a silver lining to even the darkest times.
This situation has raised questions to which we must find answers. Even today I was seeing on Facebook something about fishermen catching dolphins. Then someone caught and killed a monkey that had come in search of food. Why must we be so cruel to animals? Dolphins and monkeys are children of Nature just like us.
The air in Dhaka has changed. The plants in my garden are simply flourishing! Suddenly the air is filled with birdsong, something that has almost disappeared from Dhaka. I even so a kingfisher the other day. Even so, I just want this nightmare to be over. Humans, flora, fauna must live together in harmony
Q: You had been so busy with movies both here and in India. What are you doing now?
Jaya Ahsan: I spend my spare time tending to the garden. I had planned to read profusely, but I just can’t concentrate. I don’t watch Netflix. I am overridden with anxiety for the future.
Q: So are you turning to Nature for respite?
Jaya Ahsan: The air in Dhaka has changed. The plants in my garden are simply flourishing! Suddenly the air is filled with birdsong, something that has almost disappeared from Dhaka. I even so a kingfisher the other day. Even so, I just want this nightmare to be over. Humans, flora, fauna must live together in harmony.
Q: What were you working on last, professionally?
Jaya Ahsan: I was supposed get busy with a film by Indian director Manosh Mukul Pal. Then there was dubbing to be done for Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Ardhangini’ and a few other movies. But right now I am not thinking about cinema. People’s fundamental necessities like food, health, education are at stake. That is why I am not thinking about any new movies. I am in the same predicament as everyone else.
Q: Your movie ‘Kantha’ has been streaming.
Jaya Ahsan: People can watch it on the streaming site Hoichoi. It is a story about fighting against all odds. The film can provide courage and inspiration in these times.
* This interview appeared in the print version of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir