(Contains No Spoiler)
Let me put it like this- Chander Pahar was going to be unlike anything we've seen in Bengali movies-that was evident from the grandiose trailer.But what amazes me is that director Kamaleswar Mukherjee,like his protagonist Shankar,takes a huge leap of faith,and takes us to a realm that we,the general Bengali movie-lovers have never ventured into.
Based upon the fabled Bangla novel 'Chander Pahar' by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay,it was a huge gamble the director was taking-as resource was clearly limited for filming this epic adventure in Bengali.No one really dared before Kamaleswar to direct this gem of a literary piece.With that,both the director and it's protagonist,the reigning Bengali superstar Dev,had the additional pressure to prove their mettle on different turf.Kamaleshwar,fresh from his critically acclaimed film 'Meghe Dhaka Tara',craves for box-office recognition,whereas Dev,the cynosure of the masses,longs for critics and detractors appreciation.
Personally,I was miles away from being a Dev aficionado.But after watching this film,I must admit that he's the person to look out for in the industry in the future.He's right bang on target from the first scene-his acting is matured,diction is fairly improved and he's at height of his physical fitness.No one had the physique,charisma or the charm to play Shankar like he did with aplomb.A little bit bit vulnerability in the emotional sequences,that's the only thing anyone can complain about him in the whole film.But hey,even the 'Aamirs','Shah Rukhs' or our very own 'Prosenjits' had their rough days on screen early in their career.
South African actor Gerard Rudolf shines as the magnetic Portuguese treasure-hunter,Diego Alvarez. He subtly complements Dev with his great screen presence & body language.But it was a bit annoying to see him (though the Chinsura- Portuguese background is made up) and the other foreign characters speaking in Bengali.Then again,it was a necessary call on behalf of the makers, as the common Bengali audience has neither the will to see a movie with subtitles in it,nor has the patience to sit through a movie which has half of its dialog in English.
Technically the film is on par with any Indian movie.And when I say this,I really mean any 'Hindi or Southern VFX laden flick'.It was really astonishing to see what they've achieved with a meagre $2.4 Million (Rs. 15 Crore) budget. Director of Photography Soumik Haldar,who can be considered as a path-breaker of sorts after weaving magic with his camera in 'Chaplin', 'Autograph', 'Baishe Srabon', 'Meghe Dhaka Tara', 'Mishawr Rahasya'-outdoes himself in this film.Man! His frames are scintillating!The beautiful African locales get truly glorified by his breathtaking lens-work. Music by Debjyoti Misra & Indradeep Das Gupta is apt,specially Misra.But either one of their talent is wasted,reasons best known to the makers.
Many a people might have grudges against the 'Bunyip'-but remember!That's how Bibhutibhusan himself had envisioned the creature. Yes,the VFX is faulty,then again,what could have been done with limited resources? The only objection I have with the film is that some sequences have serious continuity issues.Specially the erupting volcano scene-as for the VFX-it's not up to the mark in this one-but that's not the only thing that hurts.The impact of the scene is marred when the herd of animals suddenly appears in front of Shankar & Alvarez,and disappears within couple of blinks of an eye. In an earlier scene,after a 'creature' attacks Shankar,he has a bandage in his hand.But it wasn't answered 'why'! Not even cleared is the incident,when Tirumal praises our hero,as if he has killed another animal,when actually he has merely dodged it. Perhaps these are the things that could have been avoided if the post-productions weren't done haphazardly. Yes.The producers wanted to capitalize on the Christmas window for a better opening for this 'Cinema Grandé'-it's justified to a certain extent.But still it spoils the experience like a pinch of dirt in a delicate platter of delicacies.
Despite a few loopholes and shortcomings,I must say Kamaleshwar Mukherjee has done a commendable job to bring alive our favourite novel to life in Silver Screen.A certain portion here and there might have been skipped from the novel,but it's not really possible to incorporate everything in literary adaptation.Hat's off to him for his brilliant vision and indomitable courage-he certainly is the next auteur in making,after setting the standard such high for a Bengali Movie.If this film doesn't bridge the gap between commercial and so-called art/alternative films in our industry,I can vouch no other film would be able to do that in the next few years. Take My Bow- the whole 'Chander Pahar' team.
And to all my friends,who have the chance to see the movie in theatres,please go and watch 'Chander Pahar' ASAP, you will be mesmerised :)
Let me put it like this- Chander Pahar was going to be unlike anything we've seen in Bengali movies-that was evident from the grandiose trailer.But what amazes me is that director Kamaleswar Mukherjee,like his protagonist Shankar,takes a huge leap of faith,and takes us to a realm that we,the general Bengali movie-lovers have never ventured into.
Based upon the fabled Bangla novel 'Chander Pahar' by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay,it was a huge gamble the director was taking-as resource was clearly limited for filming this epic adventure in Bengali.No one really dared before Kamaleswar to direct this gem of a literary piece.With that,both the director and it's protagonist,the reigning Bengali superstar Dev,had the additional pressure to prove their mettle on different turf.Kamaleshwar,fresh from his critically acclaimed film 'Meghe Dhaka Tara',craves for box-office recognition,whereas Dev,the cynosure of the masses,longs for critics and detractors appreciation.
Personally,I was miles away from being a Dev aficionado.But after watching this film,I must admit that he's the person to look out for in the industry in the future.He's right bang on target from the first scene-his acting is matured,diction is fairly improved and he's at height of his physical fitness.No one had the physique,charisma or the charm to play Shankar like he did with aplomb.A little bit bit vulnerability in the emotional sequences,that's the only thing anyone can complain about him in the whole film.But hey,even the 'Aamirs','Shah Rukhs' or our very own 'Prosenjits' had their rough days on screen early in their career.
South African actor Gerard Rudolf shines as the magnetic Portuguese treasure-hunter,Diego Alvarez. He subtly complements Dev with his great screen presence & body language.But it was a bit annoying to see him (though the Chinsura- Portuguese background is made up) and the other foreign characters speaking in Bengali.Then again,it was a necessary call on behalf of the makers, as the common Bengali audience has neither the will to see a movie with subtitles in it,nor has the patience to sit through a movie which has half of its dialog in English.
Technically the film is on par with any Indian movie.And when I say this,I really mean any 'Hindi or Southern VFX laden flick'.It was really astonishing to see what they've achieved with a meagre $2.4 Million (Rs. 15 Crore) budget. Director of Photography Soumik Haldar,who can be considered as a path-breaker of sorts after weaving magic with his camera in 'Chaplin', 'Autograph', 'Baishe Srabon', 'Meghe Dhaka Tara', 'Mishawr Rahasya'-outdoes himself in this film.Man! His frames are scintillating!The beautiful African locales get truly glorified by his breathtaking lens-work. Music by Debjyoti Misra & Indradeep Das Gupta is apt,specially Misra.But either one of their talent is wasted,reasons best known to the makers.
Many a people might have grudges against the 'Bunyip'-but remember!That's how Bibhutibhusan himself had envisioned the creature. Yes,the VFX is faulty,then again,what could have been done with limited resources? The only objection I have with the film is that some sequences have serious continuity issues.Specially the erupting volcano scene-as for the VFX-it's not up to the mark in this one-but that's not the only thing that hurts.The impact of the scene is marred when the herd of animals suddenly appears in front of Shankar & Alvarez,and disappears within couple of blinks of an eye. In an earlier scene,after a 'creature' attacks Shankar,he has a bandage in his hand.But it wasn't answered 'why'! Not even cleared is the incident,when Tirumal praises our hero,as if he has killed another animal,when actually he has merely dodged it. Perhaps these are the things that could have been avoided if the post-productions weren't done haphazardly. Yes.The producers wanted to capitalize on the Christmas window for a better opening for this 'Cinema Grandé'-it's justified to a certain extent.But still it spoils the experience like a pinch of dirt in a delicate platter of delicacies.
Despite a few loopholes and shortcomings,I must say Kamaleshwar Mukherjee has done a commendable job to bring alive our favourite novel to life in Silver Screen.A certain portion here and there might have been skipped from the novel,but it's not really possible to incorporate everything in literary adaptation.Hat's off to him for his brilliant vision and indomitable courage-he certainly is the next auteur in making,after setting the standard such high for a Bengali Movie.If this film doesn't bridge the gap between commercial and so-called art/alternative films in our industry,I can vouch no other film would be able to do that in the next few years. Take My Bow- the whole 'Chander Pahar' team.
And to all my friends,who have the chance to see the movie in theatres,please go and watch 'Chander Pahar' ASAP, you will be mesmerised :)