Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s film Lokkhikantopur Local premiered at Priya on November 21. It stood out not just for its star-studded cast but also for the presence of the actors’ caregivers and their families, adding a unique touch to the event. The film explores the dynamic of modern urban families and their reliance on caregivers from suburban areas.
Mukherjee explores the stories of three caregivers in the film placing them in three distinct families: an elderly couple played by Rituparna Sengupta and Kaushik Ganguly, whose son lives abroad; a middle-aged, childless working couple dealing with an elderly parent at home depicted by Indraneil Sengupta and Sangita Sinha; and a young unmarried couple torn between love and career goals brought to life by Rajnandini Paul and John Bhattacharyya. “I’m incredibly excited — this is my second Bengali feature film, and it has an ensemble cast that any director would dream of working with. Bringing so many characters together was a challenge, but I was committed to establishing them all effectively,” said Ram Kamal Mukherjee. Sangita Sinha added: “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us. We have secured numerous screens and prime showtimes, giving audiences plenty of opportunities to enjoy our film.”
Every day, despite facing their own personal challenges, Kalyani, Malati and Saraswati, portrayed effortlessly by Paoli Dam, Chandreyee Ghosh, and Saayoni Ghosh, catch the local train from Lokkhikantopur to take care of the homes of the urban families they work for. They are not only vital parts of these households but this shared journey also turns them into a support system for one another. “While shooting for the film, we got an idea of what the film would be. But I loved sitting and watching the whole film today. I hope everybody watches it,” Chandreyee said, having attended the screening with her caregivers.
The long hours of work allow the caregivers to be woven into the fabric of their employers’ lives — sharing in their joys, sorrows, and the day-to-day rhythm of existence. The story touches upon themes of immigration, adoption, and literacy, presenting a multi-faceted narrative filled with both expected and surprising twists. “I really hope everyone watches the film as it beautifully showcases the connection between city and suburban life. This is my first collaboration with Ram, and I will definitely remember portraying my character Labanya in years to come,” said Rituparna Sengupta.
Madan Mitra’s on-screen presence brought a delightful burst of comic relief to an otherwise tense scene, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the audience during the premiere. “My real-life persona aligns perfectly with the character I’ve been given. My character stands beside those who need support,” said Mitra.
Paoli Dam, Rituparna Sengupta, Saayoni Ghosh, and Debasish Mondal delivered compelling portrayals, while John and Rajnandini effectively depicted the subtleties of a young couple in a live-in relationship. Kaushik Ganguly and Rituparna’s chemistry as a mature couple finding solace in exploring the little joys of contemporary life that differ from their younger days was warmly portrayed on screen by the two veterans, and Ganguly’s portrayal of a bedridden patient was particularly striking. “I genuinely believe this is Ram Kamal’s best film to date. Every actor excelled, but I want to particularly talk about the performances of the female actors. It’s been a joy to collaborate with them in this film,” said Ganguly.
The rendition of songs by Iman Chakraborty and Sonu Nigam added depth to the scenes. “This film is special because it also marks my mother’s debut in acting. My character, Atmadeep, is a struggling musician; his journey resonates with my own. I loved how Ram Kamal brought all the characters together. Honestly, I never imagined I would be lip-syncing to Sonu Nigam’s voice!” said John Bhattacharyya. Saayoni added, “After several years, I finally found the opportunity to act in a film again, and I really hope it connected with people. We shot for about a year and a half, bringing these characters to life.”