A film that examines the relationship of adult siblings from the standpoint of both emotional and practical considerations, Sharthopor is a social drama that is also insightful and thought-provoking. Starring Koushik Sen and Koel Mallick as the siblings engaged in a conflict over their parents’ home, this film, directed by Annapurna Basu, goes beyond its narrative and questions patriarchal rules of society.

After the first song from Sharthopor effectively summed up the mood of the film, Sujan majhi re gives expression to one of the main themes of Sharthopor. The heartfelt song poignantly articulates a married daughter’s deep emotional connection to her parents’ home and what it symbolises for her.

Replete with scenes of festive occasions celebrated with love, warmth and togetherness, Sujan majhi re is like a tearful reminiscence by Aparna (Koel) of the bygone days, containing within itself a silent plea for the reinstatement of those happy times. The realisation that she may not have the right to visit that house ever again after it is sold by Saurav (Koushik Sen), her brother, floods her mind with countless cherished memories of times spent there, almost making her cling to them for succour.

The song visualises Aparna’s sense of alienation from her brother and her uprootedness at the possibility of not being able to call their childhood house her ‘home’ anymore. It articulates her inner confusion and conflict when she cannot decide between destroying her beautiful relationship with her brother and claiming the right to not give up her parents’ home. The words ‘Sujan majhi re’ recall songs sung by boatmen on journeys with a symbolic reference to the almighty power, and a prayer to God to steer her life in the right direction. Her shock and heartbreak about her crumbling relationship with her brother and her feeling of instability of losing her home together make her feel as though she is drifting at sea. The song thus also expresses her anxiety about losing a part of her identity, which she holds close to her heart and has nurtured with care.

The song’s courtroom visuals embody the reality of her present situation, in which she is pitted in a legal battle against her elder brother. The frigid, formal and objective world of law is offset against the world of their shared childhood, which was full of love, affection, caring and sharing. Perhaps the only source of her strength, as seen in this song, is her husband (Indrajit Chakravarty), who loves her dearly and is always supportive and encouraging of whatever she does.

With emotionally-charged lyrics by Ritam Sen and composed by Jeet Gannguli, Sujan majhi re, sung in the soulful yet powerful voice of Iman Chakraborty, resonates with those who cherish family relationships above all else.