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Sunday Classics: Rituparno Ghosh’s ‘Utsav’

A film full of Durga Puja nostalgia and a family drama like no other

When Utsav released in 2000, people knew it would be added to the anthology of cinematic gems created by Rituparno Ghosh. 

Set against the backdrop of Durga Puja in Kolkata, Mamata Shankar and Rituparna Sengupta play sisters who have come back to their ancestral home in the city to celebrate the festival. With differences in status quo, ego battles, financial troubles and the familial need to be together, this film expresses human emotions as they are — rough yet relatable. 

In a struggle to hold on to the past, their present and future seem to be put on hold. With an ensemble cast of Madhabi Mukherjee, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Arpita Pal, the film won Rituparno the Golden Lotus Award for best director at the National Awards as well. 

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