Autograph- A Review

A lot must have been written about Autograph - the new, 'different' bengali movie and I consciously chose not to read any one of those. Finally, almost a month after the release of the film, yesterday I rushed straight from work to the theatre to see it. When it comes to films, these days I rely on my own grey matter (Irrespective of how little I have it!)

Prosenjit Chatterjee accepts a rookie Director's (Indraneil Sengupta) script to produce and act on. He wants to prove to his critics, that He is the industry and that his star power can steer a movie towards success all by itself. Nandana Sen, whose screen name is Srinandita, and she plays the role of an young columnist in the film within the film 'Ajker Nayak'. She is also the director's live-in partner, and cast against Prosenjit in the onscreen film. There her name is Jahnvi. Within the course of the shoot, Prosenjit falls in love with Srinandita and instead of exploiting the director, he himself becomes a soft prey. One of the rare verbal aberrations of the hero in front of Jahnvi gets recorded in a video camera unaware of both. The director uses the tape to promote the film by selling it to the media for a negative publicity of the film! The livid Hero/Producer scraps the launch of the movie. The director continues his quest for film making. Jahnvi is not a part of this sinister (or is it?) design of her boyfriend and chooses to move away from this conundrum to find her own abode of peace. Money, success, paparazzi, or the allurement of being a lady love of a superstar does not hold her back.

This film is a tribute to Satyajit Ray's 'Nayak'. Many scenes and images are adapted from Ray's only work with Tollywood's undisputed 'Nayak' Uttam Kumar and I must say Srijit Mukherjee has settled his scores on the higher end!

The casting is a perfect mix of the old and the new. In the lead we have Prosenjit Chatterjee, Indraneil Sengupta and Nandana Sen. The filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee himself is a new comer. The female lead Nandana Sen is good. She could be better, though.  Her interaction with the lonely, dejected Arun Chatterjee ( Prosenjit) demanded a lot more maturity.  Indraneil is very good. In fact his smart, suave look has been used exceptionally well by Srijit Mukherjee. And Prosenjit Chatterjee is at his career best. He has lent complete credence to the character of Arun Chatterjee. If I were to choose a reason to watch this movie, I would lobby hard for Prosenjit. After countless run of-the-mill Swapan Saha 'gharana' movies, this one is Chatterjee’s class act after a long time. Indeed, the film once again proved that Prosenjit's acting acumen has remained majorly unutilized.

Music by Debojyoti Mishra is definitely a fantastic relief from the painful Bengali film songs that we are forced to listen to these days. Rupam Islam’s ‘Beche Thakar Gaan’ and  Shreya Ghosal’s ‘Chal Raastay’ are the two best numbers.

One of the reasons I do not watch Bengali movies is their ever receding line of demarcation with 'Jatra'. This one though, is very fresh in its dialogue composition. The characters speak day to day, realistic language and a lot of subtle humour has been peppered throughout the script to provide comic relief.

The story will make you think about it for a long time after the show is over. An average cinema lover like me would not come out of the theatre satisfied, since it is difficult to grasp the storyline, which has multiple layers in it. Autograph leaves you in a dilemma. Is it a film about the unending web of exploitation that runs like an undercurrent in the glamour world? Or is it a tale about the emotional loneliness of a superstar who thinks he is omnipotent! Or is it a movie about relationships..some that never consummate, and some, even though thought to be complete, do not stand the test of time. Or is it about innocence? The story teller allows us to make our own observation! The film allows its audience ample opportunity to understand it their way.

All said and done, Autograph is a commendable work by Srijit and his crew, and definitely worth a watch!

Mahalaya, Durga Puja, price rise et al.

Those of you, who have never woken up on a Mahalaya morning without the radio turned on in its full volume and the eternal hyms chanted by Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra, I am sure you feel the same way as I do. That hymn of 'Mahishasuramardini' has got something in it. You play it on any other day,and you would not like it....and if it is not played, it feels like you have not heralded the Puja properly.

Bengal is gearing up for its four day annual show. These four days, we will choose to forget about the Commonwealth... ( Kalmadiwealth), that the state is witnessing an imminent change of power baton from Buddha to Mamata, that there has been a bumper crop of Sugar and yet the price is soaring high at Rs. 31/ Kg, that three best men in the world of Economics sharing prominent portfolios ( Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, and Montek S Ahluwalia) have been taking turns since past one year telling that the sky rocketing price of commodities will go down, and it still has not and the Food price index is touching an unpreceedented 16%!

Its time to spend what you have saved up for the past one year to get the best and be at your best. Its time to indulge in a beauty therapy so that you look good during those four days, to have food at the restaurants where you otherwise would not have the money power to step in, to hang out with friends whom you dont get to meet, to cough up more money on anything, knowing fully well that you are being overcharged, and yet, keep that benign smile on your face. Ladies and Gentleman! Brothers and sisters, please welcome, Durga Puja - Bengalee's greatest show on the earth. Those who call themselves 'Prabashi Bengalee' and sneer at the dirty, dingy, chaotic Kolkata, somewhere deep within, I know, atleast for once, you would think...." If ..!" during these four days.

Its time for everything Good and New. New clothes, shoes, jewellery (Attn: my wealthy brothers and sisters!),bags, perfumes ( as if one does not smell rotten during the entire year!).... and many many many things, that human rationality would banish otherwise to buy, would defy all logic and place themselves in your kitty with pride.

This time I could not decide where to buy clothes from. Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, Fab India all have lost their steam. I find them either overpriced, or lacking in ideas. I thought of going to Prapti once, but this rain has marred everything. Its good to see rain from my window with my roof gardern at the backdrop, but to go out in this rain, get my feet submerged in mud and muck did not seem like a good idea.

That reminds me, how some 15 years back, I ensured that I have a ready clothing line to sustain for these 4 days. One less in number, and I used to be so sad! The clothes would have their classification. The best and the most costly being saved for Ashtami ( the eighth day from now) and gradually the order would follow - Nabami, Saptami and Sasthi. The least costly and attractive would be used on Sasthi. There is an unwritten tradition in the way we have food these four days. Strange to many of my friends hailing from East Bengal, till date on an Ashtami, either at home or outside I have never eaten non - veg! I grew old, my mom no longer polices around what I do, what I eat outside home, and yet, I do not eat non veg on an Ashtami.

(Mom, I have never defied you on this one yet!:)

On Saptami, we usually have Fish and on Nabami Mutton has always been the way of life. Dashami, usually ends with Payesh ( Kheer). Taken out of context, this tradition has always made me laugh, but during those four days, it never falls out of place.

Its time to make exclusive plans for hanging out as well. Friends ( With no one else to spend time with, but me) have already called up! Sasthi is booked for pandal hopping and a dinner that has been postponed since time immemorial. On Saptami, I have plans to go out with Ma and family and Ashtami and Nabami I have still kept on the parking lot. Its time to ready the camera as well, and if the Weather God does not play spoilsport, I plan to click some photos.

The only bonus of being a Teacher are these long vacations! Its time to unwind, time not to work and idle away with books, newspapers, FM radio, and just do nothing!

For those of you who would venture outside Calcutta to Sikkim, Digha Puri, Darjeeling, Kerala, and wherever in the world you choose to go, these four days, I will pray for you all....May Devi Durga help your soul, freshen up your body and bring back sanity to your mind, so that next time onwards, you do not committ the same mistake of stepping outside this city. Because, these four days, the same,muck filled, polluted, congested, bandh ridden Calcutta.... celebrates LIFE like never before.

MAY MAA DURGA BLESS US ALL!!!

Byomkesh bombed!!!

It is encouraging to find such a long queue infront of the movie halls to watch a bengali flick. Two Directors in recent times have tried their hands at Byomkesh Bakshi. The first one went away unnoticed despite the sleazy posters. The film was so quickly forgotten that I cannot even remember the name of the movie or its Director! This is the second one- 'Adeem Ripu' - a screen adaptation of Sharadindu Bandopadhyay's Byomkesh series.

Anjan Dutt, having established his credentials with films like 'Bong Connection' and 'Chalo lets go', made the audience expect something really exceptional and the encouraging box office collection of the first week stands proof to it.

All shows at Nandan being housefull, I watched it at the Star theatre.

Any film adaptation of a literary work faces comparison with the actual story. The image of the characters are so deeply eked out in the readers' mind, that whenever a film is made, there is an obvious comparison with the book.

Anjan Dutt's Byomkesh Bakshi disappointed me because of its several anomalies and incongruous treatment of the script by the film-maker!

Anadi babu is murdered! The Director shows that life is as usual at Anadi's house even after his murder! With Anadi's dead body lying unattended, Anadi's friend Kalibabu is asking for tea, and even though Nanibala denies, Byomkesh insists, that its okay to have tea even if there is no milk! Death, for all its worth, deserves some grace, irrespective of who it befriends!

The costume designer has not done a good job either. Ajit's watch is a old one that needs keying in. However, Byomkesh is found wearing a quartz- ( A Fast Track I guess!) in the 1960? Naninbala Devi always wears designer Tant sareer with no sign of crease on them, no matter which time of the day she gives an appearance! The policemen are all wearing white Kolkata Police outfit, and if I am not mistaken, those days, the cops wore Khaki- wardis. White terricotton were not so much in vogue then!

Byomkesh visits Prabhat's (the adopted son of Anadi) book shop, and finds him unwell. He takes him to a Dr. and then accompanies Prabhat to his house. After that, why does he go inside Prabhat's room, what does he do? What clue did he find there, nothing is known to the audience even after the film ends.

Byomkesh knows who is the killer, however, he decides to play the surprise game with the audience and thereby distances the audience from the film to a great extent! He is the Sabjanta type with no explanation given to the audience!

How did Byomkesh even know that Nanibala witnessed the murder of Anadi? Nanibala did not tell him for sure! Byomkesh or Ajit, no one was present at the site of the murder! None of the characters give any details or clue to suggest that Nanibala had seen the murder! Did Byomkesh get a divine blessing of a third eye? Well, the audience does not get to see that!

One fails to understand what is Swastika doing in the movie and especially the climax scene? Why so much of screen space has been allotted to her remains a question till the end. Her character rightly says "I cannot understand why even I am here?" Well, she had no roles to play in the murder and yet was made a part of the last scene hearing by Byomkesh..no one knows for what! The audience was not interested to know her love story! And thats all she tells the audience and leaves. The fact that Nanibala had an out of marriage relationship, that she was a fallen woman, has already been told by Kalibabu during his inebriated conversation with Byomkesh and therefore Shiuli 's (screen name of Swastika)verbal tirade against Nanibala was unnecessary!

The riot scenes are extremely ill conceived, overdone and strikes a discordent note. Throughout the movie people run from and to every possible direction for safety from communal riots. However, Ajitesh, Byomkesh and Nripen move about the riot stricken Calcutta streets in such a manner as if nothing has happened despite a growing inferno around them! Amidst the recurring scenes of communal violence, an attempt by the film-maker to portray the contemporary social set up, the utter reluctance and indifference of the characters to the surroundings is extremely unnatural and funny at times. In real life, imagine you are walking down Park Street, and God forbid there is an all devouring fire. Is it natural to walk slowly chatting and whiling away, as if nothing has happened in the world? Is it not normal to run away for safety? It was very surprising how a seasoned filmaker like Anjan Dutt could make such an unrealistic portrayal of the locale! The same Anjan Dutt, who exploited the locale with such greatness in films like "Chalo lets go", has failed miserably in this film on this count.

All conversation of Byomkesh with Ajit , intense, or otherwise, is lit up by a cigarette! The smoking is so overdone that at times I felt, Charminar was the key funding agency of the movie!

A big plus in this film is Rudraneil. The dark, short and overweight actor is getting better with each of his movies. His performance is absolutely fantastic and lends complete credence to his character. Abir Chattopadhyaya- aka Byomkesh Bakshi has done reasonably well, and Saswata Chatterjee looks good. Nanibala Roy looks more like a woman of nineties than sixties except for her glasses.....and is pathetic in her sobbing attempts! Maybe she should take a few acting tips from Rundraneil..who manages to get the audience by his side despite being the murderer by merit of his acting acumen.

Anjan Dutt's Byomkesh Bakshi, does not live up to its expectation! It fails to create the lasting impact in the audience's mind...the urge to see it more than once! That is a rare distinction achieved by all the Feluda movies made by Satyajit Ray. A 'Sonar Kella', or a 'Joybaba Felunath' creates interest in our mind even today...even though we have by-hearted the dialogues and scenes!

Had I not had the intention to write this blog, I too, would have cleaned up the hard disk of my brain off this movie soon after I came out the theatre hall!

Change....

The other day I was at the Gariahat market with a friend to buy a few clothes. We were discussing how fashion revisits itself some 20-30 years. The baggy style has given way to slim fits now. The 'Anarkali style' churidaar, printed hairband has invaded the market today in an emphatic way.....bringing back what we we used to wear some 20 years back. They say change is inevitable and I agree. It is very interesting to note though, how change repeats itself in pattern or style as time passes by.

On a completely different note though I revisited a part of my childhood this morning.

There was this maid ( domestic help) called Savitri- di who used to work at our place when I was very young. She had a daughter named ' Pushpa' who would help my mom with all the household chores. For the knowledge of all my non- Indian friends and blog followers, a domestic help, coming from a socially, economically deprived and never developed strata of society is a very common thing in Indian middle and upper class families.They are human labourers who would do the dish washing, room cleaning for many socially and economically better off households for a better living. Pushpa, was one. When she came to our house, she herself was probabaly 9-10 years old. I wrote 'probably' because neither she nor her mother could tell me the actual age. They had no birthdays, forget about the thought of celebration, they had no record of date, time or month when they were born so that the Astrologers could map their progression of future. I had spent many Sunday afternoons questioning her about her life, when does she start for work, what does she eat, why does she not go to school like me, and at times during the course of conversation I would find her fast asleep.

Pushpa and her mother came from Laxmikantapur , a village down southern West Bengal. They would report to work around 7' o clock in the morning at our place for which they would start at 3:30 in the morning even before the Sun rose. Pushpa's dad did not go to work, and I do not remember the reason, and she and her mother would work in many household like ours to arrange for a square meals for themselves, the father and the young brother. One day, when I was still in school, I heard Pushpa got married. Her mother continued to work in our house till the time I was in college first grade.

Years went by...... One day I asked Savitri di about Pushpa. She happily replied that Pushpa was then a mother of two children. I asked about Pushpa's young brother. She happily said that he was studying a major in Sanskrit at a college near our place. Just as I was moving up the ladder of academics, Savitri-di's son was also stepping ahead , scaling one after another, the unsurmountable peaks of his life. From school, to high school to college.....what a journey it was, he only knew.

Years went by..we moved away from a domestic - helped household to a self helped one where I clean my own clothes, wash my own dishes and mom does hers.

This morning while I was busy doing something at my PC, there was a knock at the gate and my mom uttered a sigh of disbelief at the ushering of the guest. Pushpa! it was. After 20-25 years she was back, with the only noticeable change being that she was a saree clad lady from a red frock clad ( that was her uniform to work) girl. Her complexion has not changed. Unlike me she has not put on weight and was well built with no sign of obesity or necessity to visit the gym. She was smiling with her white teeth and her hair still dark and oily. I asked her what were her children doing. Pushpa's son was studying at a college under the guidence of Pushpa's brother and her daughter already got married at the age of fifteen. Pushpa is back in her family business of offering domestic help because in a bid to get her daughter married off they incurred a few loans and she needed to work to pay that money. I heard that Pushpa's brother did not attend the marriage of his neice because he did not approve a child getting married. Pushpa's youngest son (kid number three) was at the sixth grade. She said, she starts off for work early morning, but ensures that she gets home by 4'o clock in the afternoon because the youngest son would come home from school and his food should be ready. Pushpa did not work therefore 'Fulltime.'

My mother asked, now that there were so much emphasis laid by the government on restructuring the social sector, so many crores of money spent on rural employment generation and rural education, could Pushpa not get some help from those? She said, at their village, they did not get any of those. For that matter, the text books for schools, which were supposed to be had from the school were not given and she has to spent a considereble amount of her income in buying books for her youngest son.

Pushpa left after a few minutes of revisiting the past, leaving me write this blog after a lull of two months.

Change is the most unchangeable happening in our life, however, the pattern of change brings back the bygone.

Here was the dress materials, the style of the seventies that made a comeback in the fashion arena, and there was Savitri and her daughter Pushpa working as domestic helps so that their sons could study in colleges and yet another little girl getting married even before she knew what marriage was!