Directed by: Nirmalya Banerjee

Starring: Ashrunu Maitra, Debasree Roy, Dhritiman Chaterji, Soma Dey, Mousumi Kar Chatterjee, Biswajit Chakraborty

Idealist poet Nikhilesh is passionate about Leftist politics, writing for little magazines and teaching slumkids. Far removed from the elite circle his advocate father Soumen Dutta (Dhritiman) moves in, Nikhilesh finds support from Siddha (Debasree Roy), a divorced schoolteacher and admirer of his poetry.

Life changes overnight for the low-key Nikhilesh after his novel bags a prestigious literary award. The publisher, who has so long trashed his work, plans to bring out newer editions of his book; an arthouse director wants to make a film on his novel; and a young TV journalist, Ankita (Mousumi), confesses her love for him. Nikhilesh feels he has finally arrived, without giving up on his ideals.

But his perfect world comes crashing down when he comes to know that he has got the award because of his father’s clout and not for his novel’s merit. He wants to step down from his pedestal but his new friends, including Ankita and his party, will not let him go. They all stand to gain from his exalted position, while Nikhilesh feels trapped.

Though the premise of Ekdin Thik is interesting and also relevant, too much of poetry and political polemics weigh it down. Conflicts between worldviews are raised and resolved through dialogues alone, and the visual treatment looks as archaic as Nikhilesh’s ideology seems to his man-of-the-world father. The father-son tussles are the only thing that stand out, with both Dhritiman and newcomer Ashrunu turning in impressive acts.