Soukarya Ghosal’s children’s science-fiction/fantasy film Pokkhirajer Dim has easily become one of the films this year that has garnered appreciation for its story as well as its message. To add to that long string of accolades is the film’s latest song, sung by Rupankar Bagchi and composed by Nabarun Bose, with lyrics by Ghosal himself — Shurjer shaat rong, a delightful track that sings, in metaphor, of the many kinds of light and colour that flood our lives once we become brave enough to look for it. In a way, the metaphor of colour may be to indicate the many different hues and shades that make up the days of our childhood — untainted by adult responsibility and seemingly light, bright and sparkling all the time. There is an innocence to the song, like at large in the film itself, that reinforces this point — a track sung from the point of view of Ghoton, the film’s young, mathematically-impaired protagonist, who looks at the world differently and all the better for it.
Visually, the video offers a glimpse into the relationships between the three main characters of the film; more specifically, the dynamics between Ghoton and the eccentric physicist, Batabyal sir, who tutors him; and the budding, albeit for now unrequited, romance between Ghoton and his sharp-as-a-needle friend, Poppins. There is a delight in watching these relationships unfold on screen: the despairing Batabyal who grows fond of his seemingly hopeless student nevertheless, and the deep friendship between the two children that is obvious even at first glance. Holding the fabric of the song — and indeed the film itself — is Ghoton, the proverbial diamond in the rough, who you can’t help but root for throughout. Shot against the backdrop of a plateau, coupled with the inventions and innovations that make our science fiction-reading days of childhood so precious, the video is a veritable trip down memory lane that is bound to leave you with a smile on your face.
Rupankar’s vocals, long a staple in the Bengali music industry, add a fine sheen to the song, blending melody with feeling. His ability to balance softness with soul ensures that the song is deeply felt, rather than just listened to, and this really helps lift the mood of it overall. With the singer’s voice carrying both the weight of emotion and the lightness of wonder, Shurjer shaat rong becomes the emotional undercurrent of the film’s most tender moments. If there is a song that ought to be added to your monsoon playlists to remind you of glorious childhood days of summer sunshine — it is this!