Podokkhep

Starring: Soumitra Chatterjee, Nandita Das, Tota Roy Chowdhury, June, Sabitri Chatterjee, Shweta Dutta

Re-releasing at: Nandan

Shot in: Calcutta

The plot: An unusual friendship with a five-year-old girl helps a retired man rediscover life. Soumitra plays Shashanka Palit, who lives with daughter Nandita. Disillusioned by the growing rift with his daughter and the changing social milieu, he comes closer to the little girl who returns from the US with her parents. The film is inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Directorspeak: “The story is structured in three segments. Unlike the original story, where the child is born as an 80-year-old and grows younger chronologically, Podokkhep has a realistic framework. There comes a time when it is difficult to distinguish the protagonist from the child mainly because old age is a phase that is closest to childhood,” says Suman Ghosh.

Takkar

Starring: Prosenjit, Rachana Banerjee, Varsha

Priyadarshini, Rishi

Releasing at: Minar, Bijoli, Chhabighar

Shot in: Calcutta and North Bengal

The plot: Prosenjit and Rachana are an estranged couple who had parted ways because of Prosenjit’s nephew Rishi. Years later when Rishi grows up, he tries to bring them together but this time Rachana’s aunt plays spoilsport. Besides, the husband and wife are also always at loggerheads — thanks to misunderstandings and revenge — though they secretly love each other!

Directorspeak: “I think this is the first time a Bengali film is exploring the idea of the heroine taking revenge on the hero. That’s why the title is Takkar. Rachana is never shown as a docile wife who sheds tears sitting at home. She is on a par with Prosenjit. Takkar is an interesting family drama with action,” says Swapan Saha.