I spent last Friday at the movies, treating myself to two Bengali films, Uma and Ahare Mon, by my colleagues Srijit Mukherji and Pratim D. Gupta. Choosing the films was the easy part, choosing the snacks was not. Ahare Mon was about to start, so I grabbed popcorn, nachos and a cola and groped my way in the dark to my seat. What I wasn’t expecting was the themes of these two films to be food for my soul.
With the lingering flavour of Pratim’s tempting Maacher Jhol that I had recently enjoyed, I happily cuddled up to my super-sized tub of popcorn that deserved a seat of its own and watched Pratim’s collage of stories — of lost souls searching for love, sometimes in the right places and sometimes in the wrong.
The charming Paoli Dam as Ramona took my breath away with her understated acting and warm presence as a fiercely independent young woman who rightfully objects to an immigration officer questioning her unmarried status while travelling abroad. But when the officer is as charismatic as Purnendu Pahari (Adil Hussain), an instant chemistry is formed between them and us. Hussain, with his intense eyes, speaks volumes, telling a tale of longing and unrequited love.
Ritwick Chakraborty and Parno Mittra’s (who takes histrionics to a match-winning performance) quirky plot of two thieves — Michael Tendulkar and Suzie Q — from different walks of life who hit it off puts a different spin on the film.
Then there’s the story of Titli (Chitrangada Chakraborty), a terminally ill patient who’s hopelessly in love with the superstar Dev. Special brownie points to Chitrangada for an endearing performance. Pratim uses her love story as the subject of discussion rather than her illness, which only makes her condition all the more sad and touching.
Anjan Dutt plays Barun, a retired hopeless romantic and resident of an old age home, with an intro that will charm you off your feet as he serenades Mamata Shankar, who plays Charulata, a new entrant in the home. In his trademark style, Anjanda shines with his neurotic energy. He is one of the finest actors we have by far, with a range that is every director’s dream, the comic timing of Woody Allen and the intensity of Al Pacino and Marlon Brando.
My favourite scene was of him hilariously rolling around on a double bed trying to make the mattress into two singles to bring some propriety to an awkward situation where he has to spend the night with his new friend (played by Mamata Shankar) in a shady hotel. What was even more charming was how Shankar’s character wasn’t least bothered with decorum and found his antics as endearing and charming as I did. I don’t want to give out the spoilers for this film, but there are twists and they’re not what you’re expecting. As I entered the second hall for round two with my tray of nachos, I was excited.
Uma is a moving story of Himadri, a father, played by Jisshu Sengupta, who desperately wants to recreate Durga Puja ahead of time for his daughter Uma who may not make it to the festive season.
Its message is timeless: the basic goodness that lies at the heart of every human being, compelling people from all walks of life to come together for the sake of the happiness of a child. The innocence of children is the closest one can ever get to godliness and Uma, played by Jisshu’s beautiful daughter Sara Sengupta (in a wonderful debut), personifies that goodness that will always eventually triumph over evil. Underneath such strong themes that echo through mythology, time and life is also the story of the down-and-out filmmaker Brahmananda (Anjan Dutt in one of his career-best performances), who is also a father.
Despite all obstacles, the biggest one being his inner turmoil with his tragic past, Brahmananda rises above it all for what could be his last chance in life as well. The film is laced with great performances from the entire cast and Srijit himself.
The task seems impossible right from the outset, which is why the promise of the premise is so intriguing — how do you recreate a fake Durga Puja in Calcutta that is convincing enough for a child to enjoy what could be her last festival ever.
It’s a story of broken families, broken bonds and broken men, and their effort to rebuild the scattered fragments of their shattered lives. After the film, as I walked around the mall, I recounted some of my favourite scenes and remembered the touching one between Anjan Dutt and Manoj Mitra (a masterclass in acting); Jisshu and his daughter, masterfully acted by both of them; the flashback of Brahmananda’s divorce proceedings where the past superimposes on the present; and the climax, which lifts the energy of the film to exhilaration.
I’m so proud to be making movies in Bengal in a time when filmmakers are telling stories that build you up, and reaffirm positivity and happiness. Movies like Uma and Ahare Mon give the message that innocence and purity still exists in the world and no matter what, kindness and love will prevail.
What did you like about Uma and Ahare Mon? Tell t2@abp.in
