How close is Tooth Pari to adaptations? Director Pratim Dasgupta reveals

When one thinks about vampires, there are a lot of shows across the world that delve into the concept and have certain myths associated. However, the recently released Netflix show Tooth Pari breaks all those myths. Director Pratim Dasgupta reveals what makes his show different and not even close to any adaptations.

Pratim discussed about his idea behind Tooth Pari in a conversation with Mid-Day. “What if there is no dentist in the vampire community, and you have to go to a human dentist to fix it?,” he asked. That raised the idea for the concept of Tooth Pari.

The director has movies like Shaheb Bibi Golaam (2016) and Maacher Jhol (2017) in his kitty. He has now helmed the Netflix series which has a new take on vampires.

Pratim explains that while usually it is considered that vampires don’t have a soul, his has and that forms a huge part of the story. Tanya Maniktala, who plays the role of a vampire in the series, can see his reflection in the mirror. It is otherwise a myth that vampires do not have a reflection. “I used them in a way that works in an Indian circumstance,” Pratim explained.

Disappointed with how the Western concepts are adapted in India, the director feels that other filmmakers introduce a tantrik or godman to make it feel more ‘Indian.’ If not that, then he feels they make it a xerox copy of the original.

Indian TV has adapted the vampire culture long before. A Hindi show Pyaar Ki Yeh Ek Kahani made waves when it released. Recently, Karan Kundrra is seen on another show where he plays the vampire. It is called Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal. Their reference points, of course, come from the likes of Twilight, Vampire Diaries and True Blood.

Pratim has not even watched any of the western shows, except one Twilight film. “I placed the story in Kolkata where the hospital, fashion, theatre, dentist chamber and taxis, among other things, feel real. I feel today, the more local you go, you can truly go global,” he explained as the reason why Tooth Pari is the way it is.