Starring: Locket Chatterjee, Abhishek Chatterjee, Nibedita, Arjun Chakraborty

Directed by: Animesh Roy

Mitali (Locket) and Amitava (Abhishek) were university sweethearts, but their dream of a happy life together has fallen apart. Mitali has seen her man go from an idealist and a compassionate lover to a materialist and a suspicious middle-aged husband.

She can’t take it anymore. To wrest her life back, she leaves Amitava for Mumbai and pursue her dreams of an acting career. Despite his high-flying corporate lifestyle, Amitava is now faced with emptiness and the drudgery of daily life.

Then, one day, while he’s returning home at night, he rescues young Hiya (Nibedita) from a gang of goons. His middle-class morality goes for a toss, as he allows the young girl to gradually encroach on his life with her youthful vibrancy and uncomplicated desires. Hiya is a ‘high-society escort’, who sympathises with and feels for Amitava. When her new ‘customer’ offers her the chance to move in, she revels in a sense of belonging that she has never felt before.

But Amitava is still in love with his wife — the memories of their happier days keep coming back. His anxiety finds voice in his friend and physician, Ronojoy (Arjun) — what will happen if Mitali returns?

She does, and though Amitava attempts a cover-up, the two women soon come face to face. Instead of fireworks, a curious bond is formed between them, which overrides even the man in the midde.

The performance of the lead actors lends credibility to Animesh Roy’s relationship tale. While Abhishek handles the angst and the emotional turmoil well, Locket portrays a love matured through years of trials and setbacks. Newcomer Nibedita tries to look sexy in her hot pants and short skirts, but the love-making scenes are stilted and lack vibrancy.

Crucially, the film is let down by mediocre camerawork, as the images lack depth and the outdoor locations look artificial. Bangla band Kaya’s background score enhances the film’s urban feel.