Adda Tram

Nandita Roy and Shiboprasad has been raising the bar over the last few years and with Bela Sheshe they had set a benchmark for themselves.

Praktan lives up to the duos much deserved fame.

The two directors have set up a style. They bring back an old pair and narrate a story of two people in a way that makes the audience feel like its their life on celluloid. It is their ability to choose a particular string of the heart and strum it in ways that will make your eyes swell.

Rituparna Sengupta is an architect, an independent modern woman, loves her man so deeply that fails to recognise that her success brews jealousy in his heart.

Prasenjit Chatterjee is a middle class tour guide running his own business, has a busy schedule, actually a romantic but doesn't have time for his wife, is dominating, prefers to be the knight in shining armour and wants his wife to be the damsel, not in distress but always dependant on him.

All goes well at first but love flies out the window when money matters come barging in through the door. Prasenjit's character Ujjan oversees the love of his wife when she gifts him and thinks its her attempt in showing him that he doesn't have standards like hers. Rituparna's Sudipa tries to get her husbands attention by making compromises, by planning trips from her own pocket just so that the two can spend some quality time together, but doesn't understand that her attempts to draw him near are actually pushing him away as it hurts his self esteem.

Sudipa's last attempt to salvage their marriage goes in vain and the two separate.

The entire film is set on a train ride from Mumbai to Kolkata and is shown on the basis of a conversation between two women. The two women being Aparijita Adya and Rituparna Sengupta.

On the side we have a group of four musicians in the train to bring in a light note with their music, otherwise the movie would have been a tad bit too dour. We also have a newly married OTT couple, Biswanath Basu and Manali Dey, coming back from their honeymoon and an elderly couple, Soumitra Chatterjee and Sabitri Chatterjee, returning to Kolkata after a visit to their son's family.

 

The reason for showing the three married couples is to show the stark contrast between the various stages and types of marriage. The young couple returning from their honeymoon shows the enthusiasm, love and concern a couple share at the start, how they don't realise that marriage isn't always a smooth sail. The elderly couple shows how love and loyalty stands the test of time and stay together till the end. The two women show how mistakes can make a marriage go wrong and how they can be rectified given a second chance and a change of heart.

However a particular aspect was a botheration. Here they showed that a woman who is driven to make a successful career is the one who is refused to lead a smooth marital life, and the woman who forgets about herself and thinks that the sole reason behind her existence is to serve her husband and care for her child, comes out successful, makes no sense as such. What were they trying to say ? That a woman after marriage needs to let go of all her dreams, and just be a thing in her in-law's house to be pushed around ? A working woman wishes to have a husband and child as well. They are not devoid of feelings just because they earn money and wish to make a mark in her life. Whenever Sudipa told Molly that she has learnt a lot about life from her, learnt that compromises are required in a marriage, I couldn't help but feel a little agitated. Why does the compromise need to be forgetting who you are ? Why should the compromise be one sided ? Leaving the job isn't a compromise. Its a sacrifice. Learning to figure out some time for your loved around your hectic schedule is what is required.
This is the only complaint I have regarding this film. The message which came across is not appropriate.

The climax and the end is something that I shall not reveal. It is for you to find out by hitting the nearest theatres. All I can say is that it is a lovely portrayal of the past and present. The last scenes between Ujjan and Sudipa and the last line by Molly(Aparajita Adhya) to Sudipa will either leave you with a smile or with a tear in your eye.

The music of this movie is praiseworthy, especially the the songs Bhromor and Tumi jake bhalobasho. After you leave the theatres hunt these two on the net and play it on loop. For sure.
As for the acting Rituparna has showed a different dimension to her performance after a long time. Aparajita Adhay though natural and effortless mostly seemed a little loud at parts and Prasenjit has lived up to his name definitely.

When I was told to buy tickets for this movie I was pretty apprehensive about how it would turn out, but thank God I did or else I would have missed something this awesome.

Let me first tip my hat for Kaushik Ganguly as he dished out a spooky plot, remarkable direction and outstanding acting. When we see an actor on screen we do realise that he has slipped on the skin of a character but for Kaushik Ganguly you cannot say that. You actually clap for him when he murmurs 'Ami jokhon boli je bonduk thik ache tar mane bujhben je bonduk ta thik e ache'. It felt like he is Timir babu in real and reel life.

Special credit for the costume designer who put together Abir's look cause he looked smart, elegant and delicious. Coming to his performance, this is probably one of his best so far. He fit the role of a brigadier perfectly. The way he showed his angst, his disgust, his distress, his constant desire to win and the final display of passion for his wife whom he has spurned for long was stunning. He is clearly honing his acting skills.

We see our wonderful and beautiful Raima again. Her performance is commendable and the fact that she looked pretty goes without saying. She has definitely done better than what she did in Mon Chora.

Parambrata Chatterjee, our ever dependable actor did very well as the gentle but sharp baastuman Kushal.

Churni Ganguly too puts in a very appreciable performance as the deranged Antara, the elder sister of Abir, who hasn't recuperated from the loss of her husband and son in a car accident.

Cinematographer Gopi Bhagat needs to be mentioned, especially for bringing forth the charm and beauty of Darjeeling.

This is a movie based on relationships which is actually a surprise cause the title doesn't suggest that at all.
Bastushap is packed with lots of thrill and romance and since it is presented so well, do go and give it a watch.

Based on the story Banhi Patanga by Saradindu Bandopadhay this winter Arindam Sil gives us a racy pacy Byomkesh film for our regular dose of much needed thrill.

The movie rolls and enters Byomkesh Bakshi with his wife Satyabati and his author brother Ajit Bandopadhay who are greeted by Inspector Purandhar Pandey in the holy city of Benaras.

Abir in his dhuti panjabi attire and with his smartness and sharp intellect remind us of our olden golden rich bangaliana. His clear cut words and no nonsense attitude reiterates the fact that he is the perfect choice for portraying a sleuth.
Sohini Sarkar gives us a cheerful Satyabati who is demure, intelligent and adds a  certain cuteness to her personality.
Ritwick Chakraborty, the sidekick of our detective as Ajit Bandopadhay has the edginess of a creative mind and also provides some comic relief at times in such a sombre background.
Harsh Chhaya draws an endearing picture of Inspector Purandhar Pandey who plays an ideal host to our family from bengal.

Now comes Inspector Rathikanth Chowdhury marching into Purandhar Panday's residence to invite him to Deepnarayan Singh's palace for a gala night. Having guests over, Purandhar Pandey politely declines the invitation, but Deepnarayan Singh's generous hospitality is extended which is why our trio too are invited.

Deepnarayan Singh happens to be a rich, powerful zamindar of Benaras around whom mysterious tales are woven especially about his second wife Shakuntala Singh, played by Nusrat Jahan. Rumours say that he has married Shakuntala, a woman half his age, by his own will and against hers.
Whatever the rumours maybe Adil Hussain as Deepnarayan Singh will leave a mark on you even with his short screen time. That voice. That smooth talk. Those titbits of bangla. Many bong women can be heard sighing whenever his face is on screen. Though Nusrat Jahan needs to hone her acting skills, she cut a very beautiful picture throughout the movie.

Night falls, guests come pouring in and a beautiful mujra is presented by Koneenika. Meanwhile Inspector Rathikanth comes in with the news of a robbery in Dr. Pannalal Palit's, the doctor who gave Deepnarayan Singh a new life,modest dispensary.
And that is when the mystery knocks at our detective's door.

Appreciable performances rule all over but we miss the way in which Byomkesh Bakshi slowly unwinds the facts before his audience. Here the revelation is narrated a bit too fast by Abir which bereaves us of enjoying the moment where we are left aghast.

Cinematographer Soumik Halder has beautifully captured the wondrous Benaras in his lens.

Bikram Ghosh deserves special mention for his music direction. Well placed catchy songs are always welcome in a good film.

Over all Har Har Byomkesh makes for a satisfying watch.

PS: Spoiler alert !!! A painting plays a pivotal role here and at the end you will find a scene which is a total rip off of Jai Baba Felunath. Director Arindam Sil says that it is a tribute although. And for the ones drooling over Abir Chatterjee, you will find him romancing his lady love here.

Watch it here in Amazon Prime, if you have missed it in the theatres!

Mon Chora, seems like a low budget attempt in romance by Sandip Ray. Nonetheless barring some errors, it is quite watchable.

Abir Chatterjee and Saswata Chatterjee save the movie from turning into a snooze fest. Saswata once again shows his brilliance by being the meek Monu, who can even kill for his lady love Miss Lily. Abir is slowly turning out to be the ultimate detective and romantic hero. He has a certain sharpness in his mannerisms which is very refreshing.
Raima Sen shimmers through the movie as Nanda and tries to follow the foot steps of her grandmother Suchitra Sen in the way she flutteres her lashes and in her dialogue delivery, but she kinda falls flat on that. We have seen superior performances from her and expect much more. We needed more life from her and less of the plastic stuff. She could have positively been better if she gave more of herself and tried to imitate her granny less. Though it wasn't a terrible attempt on her part, we would prefer seeing a Raima than another Suchitra.
June Malia shines as Miss Lily and she did what she does best, drinking and seducing men. That's all that she has been doing lately, on screen that is.
Paran Bandopadhay too was in his usual comic self.

Sandip Ray may have inherited his father's foodie genes, which is oh-so-evident when we have Paran Bandopadhay relishing his dinner with his doting granddaughter Nanda (Raima) watching him lovingly and saying 'Pudding er jonno jayega rekho kintu' in the opening scene, but he has his father's large shoes to fill in the suspense sector.
We have seen him primarily direct Feluda movies and whatever non-Feluda movies he has made all have a thriller element in them. Mon Chora too has a whiff of suspense, which is one of the highlights of the movie. But the thrill present in the original story of Saradindu Bandopadhay could have been delineated better. The major draw here lays in the charm of innocent love and that is depicted modestly by Abir and Raima. And there is a surprise at the end which you cannot possibly guess and will be thinking of throughout the movie.

The movie has a very 80's feel to it with the exception of a single iPhone only. If winter spells romance for you and reminds you of long lost days then you can positively drop in a nearby theatre and give Mon Chora a watch. Despite its flaws it will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling with your partner by your side.