The Madrid International Film Festival is giving you the Lifetime Achievement Award. Having received so many awards, what do they now mean to you?

I am not a saint and definitely love recognition of my work. When it comes from an international festival circuit, it’s very gratifying. That makes me more responsible towards my art. Awards make me want to grow but I can’t be dictated by them.

How did you choose the 13 short stories of Mahasweta Devi for your telefilms?
When I started rereading Mahasweta Devi’s stories, I found that her characters and their background have an eternal quality. Since there aren’t too many issues that she has dealt with, it wasn’t all that difficult to shortlist Choli ke Pichhe, Lifer, Chhuri, Dhauli, Manat, Giribala, Nababarsha, Talaq, Jibonswaraner Ma, Wrong Number, Arjun, Nishi and Sandhobhasha. While 12 of the telefilms were shot in Purulia, I just finished shooting Wrong Number in Kolkata.

I don’t differentiate technically when I’m shooting for a telefilm and a feature film. I’ve a feeling that Doordarshan could financially benefit a lot if they decide to convert at least five of these telefilms into full length feature films later. I’d wish to club Choli ke Pichhe, Dhauli, Giribala, Nishi and Sandhobhasha into a feature film and call it Pancha Kanya.

While your last feature films saw Bollywood imports, you’ve stuck to local talents in this case. Have you found exciting faces in your own backyard?

Though I haven’t found anyone in terms of exciting and new male faces, there are some very promising new girls. Pauli, Swarnakamal, Soma and Sudipta are hugely talented. I find Raima’s face exciting too. Two actors who never got their due in Bengal are Laboni Sarkar and Indrani Halder.

Considering this Doordarshan project was made on a budget of Rs 78 lakh, can aspiring directors dream of bagging such funds or was this just an exception made for directors with branding?

I understand that allocation of such budgets is unheard of elsewhere. I’ve never compromised if people can’t afford me. I had the budget and hence, could go for 27 takes for just one shot. But, one has to understand that all this hasn’t happened in a day. It takes time and patience. I see a bright future for aspiring film-makers if they are honest to their creation.

Is it hypocritical for directors to claim that they don’t wish to understand the economics of film-making?

A director can’t shed the responsibility of making a film that sells. If someone has trusted you with a sum of money, it’s your duty to make a film that sells so that he benefits and you get money for your next project too. If you can’t sell your film in a certain market in India, you need to know what to do to sell it abroad.

How much of a businessman are you while being a director?

There is no harm in a director being 100 per cent alert as a businessman as long as it doesn’t destroy your creativity or force you to compromise.