Bringing back together the popular screen pair of Dev and Subhashree Ganguly after a span of a decade, Kaushik Ganguly’s upcoming film Dhumketu has been creating quite a buzz since the announcement of its upcoming release. As revealed by the film’s teaser and song videos, the action-packed film will also revolve around an unfinished love story.
Hobe na dekha, the latest song from the film’s soundtrack, is a melancholic number that points to an unfulfilled romance. Composed around the separation of the couple played by Dev and Subhashree’s characters, it captures the pain of their separation and their yearning to be reunited with their loved one. The evocative lyrics of Hobe na dekha tug at the heartstrings through the impassioned vocals of singer Ishan Mitra. Written and composed by Anupam Roy, the deeply emotional song stirs the depths of the listener’s soul, and makes them empathise with the sorrow and heartbreak of the sundered couple.
Unlike Gaane gaane, which is a lighthearted romantic number celebrating their love, this song is built around Bhanu’s (Dev) memories of his relationship with Rupa (Subhashree). Though they are shown meeting each other at the marketplace, Rupa cannot recognise Bhanu as he is disguised as an old man. Bhanu too does not reveal his identity to her, but catching sight of her is enough to trigger his memories of their shared, happy past as lovers and as a newly married couple. The pathos in Bhanu’s face is palpable when he recounts memories of that beautiful time, carefree and content in each other’s company. He remembers their moments of laughter and fun, their arguments and the numerous blissful moments they spent together at the very same place where he and Rupa were now sitting as strangers, at a little distance from each other, so near and yet so far. The song however ends with a scene from the past which hints at a sudden crisis in Bhanu’s life, that ultimately may have caused him to abscond from home and go into hiding.
Moments from the past and present clash in the visuals of Hobe na dekha, laying bare the stark contrast in the looks, attitudes and moods of both Rupa and Bhanu’s characters. While the past shows them as a young, innocent pair with dreams in their eyes and passion in their hearts, the scenes from the present portray them in a completely different light. While Bhanu is practically unidentifiable in his octogenarian’s disguise, Dev’s expressive eyes betray Bhanu’s profound sorrow and helplessness at being away from his loved ones, and his inability to alleviate the suffering caused to them by his unexplained, prolonged absence. Subhashree masterfully portrays Rupa’s transformation from a bubbly, free-spirited young girl to a wife silently enduring the pain of going through life on her own while waiting and hoping against hope for her husband’s return.
Showcasing the unmatched chemistry between Dev and Subhashree, while superbly demonstrating their acting talent, Hobe na dekha from Dhumketu is a song whose poignant lyrics will resonate with lovers who have experienced the pain of separation or heartbreak. Dhumketu releases in theatres on August 14.
