by Subhash K Jha

"It's truly a first for me on many levels. It's my first film in Bengali, my first with Buddhadeb Dasgupta and also the first time that I'll be going to the Berlin film festival," says the Kaalpurush leading man Rahul Bose.

Just back in Mumbai after a long stint of shooting for Santosh Sivan's Kerala in Munar, Rahul is remarkably charged about Kaalpurush's selection in the prestigious Panorama section at Berlin. "I've been on several occasions to the festivals in Cannes and Venice. But never to Berlin.

" My director, producer (Sanjay Raotre) and I are in Berlin on Feb 16, 17 and 18. The Gala screening is n the 17 th. Even as a diehard festival buff I'm excited by this honour. Not too often does an Indian and that too a 'regional'film get into the panorama section in Berlin."

Back home the actor is totally charged about Santosh Sivan's Kerala which he has just completed. "From the camerawork to the art direction to the performances by both the Indian and international actors...this film smells of being an achievement of some substance."

Rahul pauses to consider the honour. " Kaalpurush has come a logical step forward by being in Berlin. It was earlier screened at the Toronto film festival."

And what will Rahul wear in Berlin? "I think I'll wear some clothes," he ponders at his own dead-pan wit.