Paoli Dam and Parambrata Chattopadhyay in Hercules

I have always been a great fan of mainstream cinema. Especially the Hindi films of the ’70s. The ’70s, I believe, was all about style. But it was also about the rise of the common man. How, against all odds, he rises to the occasion and becomes a hero to those around him.

When I saw the first look and trailer of Hercules, I had a feeling that this film would be just another Fight Club remake. As I settled into my seat at INOX, South City, for the premiere all I could think of was how this would be different.

As the film started unfolding before my eyes I got hooked to Haru. I was mesmerised by how Parambrata Chattopadhyay had changed his body language, his voice, his presence, his look and just about anything else you can think of, to get into the character of an under-confident young man who is perpetually scared. The imaginary presence of his parents provides him some sort of courage.

Haru is the common man personified. Just like him, we are scared to stand up for what is right. We are scared to speak of our love for someone. We are scared of the system. We are scared to speak up against five men who try to molest a girl on the streets. Is this how life is meant to be lived?

Through Padmanabha Dasgupta’s script, Abhijit Guha and Sudeshna Roy have tried to send a message across that the hero lies within us. As Vijay rose from being just another common man wronged by the system, Haru will rise from among us and become Hercules!

Saswata Chatterjee is again a delight to watch. He breaks barriers with every film that he does. His Mosh has literally taken the bull of a system by its horns and mounted it to take the shortcut to success. His childhood friend becomes a victim of his torture just so he can make a few quick bucks. He forgets that this is the very young man he played cricket with as a kid. Yet, Saswata Chatterjee’s performance makes him a likeable character. There is a helplessness in his fight to join the system.

Paoli Dam puts in an honest performance as Minu. The undercurrent of affection that Haru and Minu share makes for a few heart-warming moments in the film.

Tanmoy Chakraborty’s art direction and Supriyo Dutta’s cinematography bring the film alive. If I were not shooting in the same studio at the time, I would have never known that the film is almost entirely shot in a studio. Ananda Dham (Haru’s house) seems like any one of those dilapidated old houses in one of the many bylanes of Calcutta.

Parambrata Chattopadhyay fans like me must not miss this film. He has surpassed himself in Hercules. He plays two diverse roles with elan, not once letting any one character find its way into the other.

Hercules is mainstream cinema with a healthy dose of Bangaliana. For all those who complain of the lack of good Bengali films, this is a revelation. For all those who complain of good Bengali films being too serious, this is an eye-opener. If the audience wants Bengali films to get better they must watch such films in theatres and not wait for DVDs or “world premieres” on television.

And for all those like me, foolishly thinking of Fight Club while watching the trailer, let me assure you, you cannot be further from the truth!

Is Hercules Parambrata’s best act? Tell t2@abp.in