Acclaimed actor Seema Biswas of 'Bandit Queen' and 'Water' fame looks at Indian-American director Prashant Bhargava's award-winning first feature film Patang (Kite) as an extraordinary one.
"It's not a conventional kind of film. It's totally different, totally unique and totally unconventional in its treatment, whether it's handling of the camera or handling the actors," said Seema.
"No one can make out that one is acting. Everyone is in character all the time performing in a naturalistic way," said Seema, about her role in the film which has won rave reviews not only for its lyrical visual quality, but also the performance of its cast, largely made up of non-actors.
So what made her accept the film? "The attitude attracted me. I always listen to my heart then I decide. I don't care whether I should do this with a first time director or not. I only go for it if I find the director is intelligent and knows what he wants," said Seema.
It was indeed a big challenge to act in a film which has only three professional actors, said Seema, who plays the role of the widowed sister-in-law of an affluent businessman from Delhi who comes home to visit his family in Ahmedabad.
"The director would simply explain the scene, but non-actors would not know what they were doing. So it was my responsibility to bring them back to the point, which is what really helped me as an actor to grow - to act naturalistically," she added.
When asked what she found more satisfying, working in mainstream Bollywood films or art house films, she said, "Honestly, it's not my decision to not to act in Bollywood films. I think my personality does not suit Bollywood character mostly."
"In Bollywood films you get slotted. If you are doing a maid servant role in one, you'll get the same role in next seven films.
If you are Shah Rukh Khan's mother in one, for your whole life you'll be Shah Rukh Khan's mother," she added.
"But now the trend has changed. There are lots of interesting directors out there with whom I would like to work, but I don't think I will get a chance to work with them in this life," she averred.
"Cinema is such an interesting medium where you can show your calibre without saying a word.
Sitting quietly you can communicate with the audience," said Seema.
Patang is being released in the US theatres on June 15 and it will be released in India in July.