anjumhaz

Watched two Farooki movies back to back in a while. This one is on a contemporary topic- monogamy. Is monogamy not working today? That was the theme of the movie. And it had humor, kinda comedy style. But also some serious notes.

Shafkat is the boss of an advertising company and Lamiya is an intern who is also a singer and very modern. The contrast between them instills a kind of attraction but Shafkat also can't ignore the fact that he has a family. So, the love affair gets as peculiar as it can be. And funny.

I liked how Farooki showcased Dhaka's newly installed metro through the lens of a camera. He uses whatever tools he can get, like the metro, the local cuisines that can enhance the charm of a film, but he also keeps it real-doesn't add too many filters for the sake of beautifying.

As my husband says, Bangla movies tend to have less substance. I nodded with him. Even though Farooki didn't lack substance in Bachelor and Television, I felt his last two movies "Something like an autobiography" and "Last Defenders of Monogamy" could have some more substance. In this movie, you can count there were basically three characters. Oh and the child part of a 7/8 years old daughter was very bad. I don't think a small girl can talk so maturely and who dubbed her voice? Sounds like someone much older.

I would say it's a very mellow watch. You can chill out for 90 minutes and watch this. Spending 90 minutes on the same topic is also not something many people like. So, a bit more substance wouldn't hurt.

Watched a Farooki movie after a long time. It's about a celebrity couple's journey to a delayed parenthood. In Bangladeshi society, couples are expected to multiply as soon as they are married. So after a decade of marriage, the celeb couple faces frowning from almost everyone for not producing a child yet.

The journey to a delayed parenthood starts. It is difficult to be a parent, and at later age and if so much is expected from a pair of people. Farhan and Tithy go through a lot of emotions and challenges to embrace their journey.

The movie was excellent in portraying real life Dhaka. The bustling was always in the background, this is the trademark of Farooki-you will notice the absence of filters in his shots, in the tension of the movie. The to-bo-mother is shown unfiltered, her leftover kajol displayed without making it "sexy" (as female leads are always portrayed in most movies, must look charming no matter what the situation is). I loved that.

I loved that the movie brought out the social tension, the religious tension around being a couple and not parents. It's almost looked upon as a sin.

Watch this 90 minute movie any time to feel a little emotional, a little inspired, and admire a lot-our Farooki and Tisha.

A woman diagnosed with dementia wishes to visit her childhood town. Her husband accompanies her. They visit this quiet small town, the town was a big element of the movie! Tranquil and calm, it reminds us of childhood more than anything else. The woman finds her childhood friends and memories that she is afraid she might forget once her disease develops. The story is quite simple, it's the layout that's fantastic. Watching the movie is like revisiting your childhood, feeling nostalgic about a time when life was not this busy, streets were not this bustling and friendship was more enjoyable.

Great watch when you crave for a soothing movie!

The black and white screen of the movie appeared in my NetFlix home, I looked at the title "Roma". By now I have formed an excellent intuition about if a movie would match my taste. And Roma scored highly as soon as I googled and found out that a house maid is in a big role in the movie.

So I spent a beautiful weekend watching Roma. Roma was not the name of the housemaid by the way. I was looking for a character named Roma, but there was none. Cleo is the house maid. The movie is set in 1970's Mexico. This is a movie where the protagonist is probably not a single artist, but the time frame constructed by the actors, by the set up and all other elements of the movie. It was fantastic. The movie is like any other good movie- kept in a low tune, just like life. Political unrest to domestic affairs rise and fall in the movie. The 70's house's set up looked so alike to the rich houses of my country, Bangladesh. All the rich in the world probably maintain the same standard. A living room with expensive show pieces, bookshelves, lamps, a servant's quarter. I loved watching the still life in the house.

Loved Aparacio as Leo, she was just natural. A lovely movie, a sweet family on the screen to watch. Have your favorite drink and play Roma- to make a weekend beautiful.

Such a mindful watch. Natural, refresgin and soothing.

It's the kind of a movie that makes you wonder what it would feel to live the life behind the screen.

Based on South India's green landscape, it tells the real story of a couple who raises baby elephants. Elephants are gods to them. In Bomann's words, "we love our gods by loving them". Life, loss everything is surrounded with a rich, meaningful wildlife there.

I so much imagining myself living there, caring for baby animals. These kinds of documentaries can lead the animal movement to front. It's a perfect mind refreshing watch in the weekend!

Watched such a soothing movie after a long time. Kinda movie, that brings tear in one's eyes, that leaves a soothing touch in one's mind- in one word made my weekend.

I was browsing in Hoichoi for a weekend watch. Found this movie under the 'Unconventional dramas' section. Saw Rahul Bose, one of my favorites, never disappoints me with his role play and good choice in movie, in the starred list. Also Mithun Chakraborty starred in the movie. What a father-son duo in cinema.

The movie starts with a tune of a flute, which comes over throughout the movie on multiple instances, and your heart aches for the tune, it blends perfectly with the sadness, innocence of the story and aches your heart without any reason. Shumonto, the son, is adult now. Father of two children. He has grown himself into an exceptional type. A calm, out of the wind type man. His father tries to reconnect with him after a long gap between their lives. Both men, passing their adulthood, share their common grounds and memories they preserved with much adoration.

The story was exceptional. It was not a one sided tale. Not a decisive one too. It simply shows life as it is. Didn't feel I was watching a drama, it felt like observing a great art. Felt I was roaming in Bohrompur, the vast greeneries, a car in a muddy road passing by me. Felt the tune of flute touching my every inch of skin. The Bengali home with their elegant vintage furniture, the first light of morning falling on the greenery of Bengal, 'jatradol' dancing in their costumes- were so captivating throughout the whole film. They had no dialogue, but cut them out, the art would be missing some vital parts.

This one is gonna be worth your time if you are a Bangla movie amateur. Serve yourself a cup of tea and enjoy, say bye to the busy, concrete life for 2 hours...

I have read the short story by Ray on which the movie is based. I read it 2-3 years ago. A simple, mindful story that left a happy flicker on my face. And now after seeing this movie, I am having the same feeling. Ray is the rare kind of director who keeps the heart of a book alive even in front of the screen.

A stranger visits a family, makes them fall into an awkward situation, and keeps the viewers in suspense. Slowly, it's no longer the stranger or the suspense of why he came to visit, rather the interesting experiences of living in many different places and the view of civilization from a rare angle, that keeps the viewers glued to the screen. We become Pablo, the six years old, who is less doubtful about the stranger and mostly awed, 'Aribbas, jaal dadu!'. Utpal Dutt played the stranger's role like a master. And it was good to see my favorite artists, Momta Shankar and Deepangkar Dey in major parts of the movie. Loved the raw, pure and mindful Saotal dance and music in this movie!

The tea table discussion on religion, God, boundless sex- oh Ray masters in making art out of these simple scenes. The highest form of adda, the highest form of movie! Watch this great piece of art, we can be proud of Bangla movies!

Rewatched the movie after ten years. Just after watching Manik da's Nayak. Autograph was a revolution in the great depression of Bangla cinema and I admired Srijit for starting the new era. The rewatch at the right maturity made me understand and feel the movie deeply.

Take Satyajit Ray's Nayak and wrap it up with the shooting crew's life around that time- there you get the plot of Autograph. Srijit caught the relay stick of Manik da's legacy so gracefully.

The movie is great, the scenes catch the spectators so deeply. The twist, the love, the hatred- all flourished with glaze on the screen. What is so special to me about this movie goes beyond the movie too. I mentioned in the caption that it initiated a good culture of Bangla movies. Also, the good culture lets many great actors , actresses play roles that matter. I was never a fan of Prosenjit Chatterjee until I watched Autograph. (Later I watched his movies directed by Rituporno Ghosh and I was like, o gem, so you have done so many good parts before, and a real good actor) Prosenjit amazed me, simply! I felt like, man this is his role. This is him. No acting. Nandana and Indranil amazed me too!

Can't but mention the songs. My most favorite lyric is from this movie! The lyrics said as much as the characters. They kept the movie, the sensation of the Nayak alive to this day.

"Don't light a candle for me, the sea of crowd I have seen I have been lost in them, not catching the last train home."

I have watched about a handful of black and white movies in Bangla. Obviously their popularity as classics led me to watch them and I appreciate the beauty in those movies. 'Nayak' propelled me with the same interest. But the experience was more than I expected!

Satyajit Ray has made a film that bound no time! In a train journey, a popular actor played by Uttam Kumar looks back at his acting career's discrete events. Later many directors would make movies on the same concept of a train ride or a look back or celebrity crisis etc., but this one, so raw and pure and without any makeup of unreality won my heart the most! In comparison to other 'old is gold' genre movies, the exceptional background music, presence of abstract elements, dialogues that don't seem scripted etc. Were excellent. Always a fan of Ray's music choice. This is a movie with no song or dance of course. Even the background music that Ray chose was not from popular sanai or other melodramatic instruments. It's unique in Satyajit Ray's film.

About Uttam Kumar, nothing to add I think. I have only heard of his legacy, got proof that the legacy is not just made up. It amazed me that in 1966, an actor so celebrated actually did class works rather than third class movies with 5 songs and an item. Want to mention Sharmila Tagore for her effortless acting. She was just sweet! Only 18 and she spoke Bangla so sweetly and acted against a big star with so much ease!

A must watch if you admire old Bangla movies or Satyajit Ray or true cinemas!

In this black and white epic, we see Ravi Ghosh as Dhananjoy, a stranger who suddenly arrives at a home and alters the life of the family living there. The acting of Ravi Ghosh and the exceptional story of the film bring this to a height for all time!

It's 2022, almost 60 years passed after the movie was released first. So many technologies came and went, so went so many artists. With the tide of time, 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' stands upright. Because the movie stands alongside reality, which is still true.

This is a classic, Ritwik Ghatak presents us the struggle of a lower middle class family. Each member of family is absorbed in their own business except Neeta, the most struggler. Neeta could go a long way, but she is the cloud capped star of her life...

Proud of this classic Bangla movie which deserves to be an international sensation.

Movies with lawyers are always my favorite. And Vinci, Nietzsche, ubermensch- all combined to turn this movie into a pure art.

The cast was excellent. Ritwick Chakroborty, Rudranil Ghosh, Anirban Bhattacharya, Riddhi Sen, Sohini Sarkar- everyone gave their best in the movie. However different and difficult their roles were, they played so gracefully. If you are a thriller fan, this movie with its local and global context can be a great suit for your weekend watch!

Thanks to Srijit for giving another superb thriller after 'Baishe Srabon'.

Only good news for Feluda lovers to see Feluda pherot, Feluda is back, this time in web series! Thanks to Srijit for taking the initiative..

The title song of the returning series touched me. Tota Roy Chowdhury was superb! So gracefully fit in Feluda's overall. Rishi Kaushik with his curls and thick mustache amazed me! Totally played like a macho ringmaster. The cast was excellent actually. I couldn't recognize Samadarshi Dutta, so well played his dumb character with 80's hairstyle.

The thing that disturbed me a bit was, there were some scenes with a Royal Bengal Tiger and I hated the graphics. It could have been fantastic with a real one!

Waiting for more seasons to come. Lesssgoooo...

(Review of season 1, Darjeeling Jomjomat)

Feluda is evergreen in Bangla literature. Event though you know the original story, it's still thrilling enough to see all the versions made by different artists.

It's every director's dream to direct Feluda of their own. I have read Feluda, watched on big screen, where Feluda was played by Soumitra Chatterjee. Watched Feluda played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty. I have listened to Feluda in radio Mirchi with Sabyasachi's voice. All those versions stayed with me as classics. And when I saw Feluda is out in web series in Hoichoi, with Srijit's direction, I was so excited, because Feluda deserves web series.

The cast gave me a good feeling. Especially, Tota Roy Chowdhury as Feluda. I loved it. He aced in Feluda's personality from stunning yoga poses to lighting the Charminar.

About the background music, I was not fully satisfied. I was missing the music, the one played in the old movies to radio Mirchi's narration. Even though the new background music is good, it couldn't reach the classic height as the old one. I also like the theme song played by three of my favorite musicians, there too I was comparing it with the old classic music. It was good, but hard to love after hearing the old one.

The things that amazed me in this movie were the beautiful representation of Darjeeling, the stunning Kanchenjunga. And the chase after of cars in the mountain roads of Darjeeling, that was superb! It was dangerously beautiful.

If you are a Feluda lover, try this out. Try not to compare too much. Will appreciate more web series like this so the that time spent binging gets worthy!

If you have watched Indian Bangla films 'Chaar', 'Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy', you know the structure of the film. Multiple independent stories are shown one after another. This movie has about a dozen stories, each set in different locations of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. The stories vary on a wide range. Some tell us about the economic struggle of the lower-middle/middle class people of Dhaka. Some give us a glimpse of upper class life at Dhaka. Each story spanning 10 to 20 minutes keeps the spectators glued to the screen. It felt like a bunch of short stories, very readable, compiled in a book.

I would keep this film in the tasteful Bangla watch collection. But I would criticize some bits of the movie. One or two story's acting or overall presentation seemed dramatic to me. Especially the first one. But the rest of the stories were more authentic. 'Jibon's gun', 'Cheers', 'Dhaka metro' were so alive. I loved that the actors, actresses were so into the characters. Loved to see Sporshia, Allen, Manoj on the big screen, playing their roles so gracefully. Also Dhaka as a city came alive in the movie. You could see the hearts of our capital, like Hatirjheel, Parliament etc. The depiction of different economic classes was so real. And there was no hiding of the filthy streets of Dhaka. I loved that visibility.

I would mention 'Jinnah is alive' for it showed the REAL picture of the plot. Based on the Bihari population, this story shows the naked truth of the dilemma of these people, hardly ever shown in screen of Bangladesh. I think, the plot, acting and transparency of this story won among all.

'Juthi' got a special position in my heart! The classic story of a boy and girl crossing marrying age but still struggling to achieve the social and economic status for getting well paid and renting an apartment. Love slowly turns into frustration, time spent together is just some pay bills.

Bangladesh's screen is much richer in telefilms than ordinary movies. I am glad that this telefilm style movie has added a new flavor in the film industry. Keep going and make good, contentful movies like this!

Shahaduz Zaman a favorite author, Tauquir a favorite director (though he didn't direct this movie), Mosharraf Karim a favorite actor- so I closed my eyes to watch this beautiful piece. I am awestruck. I saw Mosharraf Karim's appearance, wearing a cheap cheque blazer that is popular among the lower middle class of Bangladesh and I could smell Bangladesh and then I knew it- this is gonna be the movie.

Into a few minutes of the movie and I was wondering about the classes of humans that are not created biologically rather by economy.

I could totally feel the ambience of the launch, 'Komola Rocket'. There are the first class cabins reserved for upper class people, who can't but mention to strangers that they are members of Dhaka club, (I remember a neighbor aunty who would force me to have meals at her home, only to announce her membership of whatsoever ladies club). Then there are passengers who changed their fortune first with a secured job, then with a 'forsha' wife. Next comes the people who are doing their best to be acquaintances of the above two classes, looking for chances to earn some lump sum out of it. Lastly comes the day to day class, they are many in number, hence fighting the most to stay ahead in an ever increasing line of people who are jostling to climb up the class ladder. Like the blind-folded person in the circus that was shown in the movie, they lead their life knowing the fact that knives with flame will slide by their sides, but they stay still until one hits them. Life is more or less a fire game...

The characters, situations shown in this movie can't be more authentic than they were. This is true Bangladesh, this is the true survival climax of an ever increasing population. Mosharraf Karim, Joyraaj and Tauquir performed so seamlessly representing three classes of our society. The directing amazed me as well. Noor Alam Mithu starred in Pipra Bidya and I haven't seen him for long after then. It was so good to see him directing a class movie. Sorry to bring class, but if we gonna classify everything, movies should come first before people :D.

A mother arrives at the city where her son used to work after he meets with a car accident. The mother finds out that he had a lover. Both the mother and lover share the memories they had of their loved one.

You can count the number of actors in the movie by your fingers, but what the movie presented was huge. Emotions shower over some moments and let you see the other side of the story. What can we accept or cannot?

Loved Rituporno more in this movie. Always used to have a special corner for him. After seeing him acting in such an unconventional role and presenting the unheard in such a graceful manner, my fondness for him only increased more. What a lovely, sharp movie. This will go in the bests of Rituporno.

Nandita and Shiboproshad's films are based on a theme, contain light comedy and often emphasize on the role of a well-practiced family/social life. In this movie Konttho, we see the struggle of a cancer patient who had to sacrifice his larynx for his life and later he starts vocal lessons from a laryngologist.

Jaya Ahsan played the laryngologist and she was superb in her role. The movie went with the theme of 'never give up'. We also see how our closest ones have to be patient in danger and how it can lead us to distance sometimes.

It's an enjoyable watch with family and it will boost you up with courage!

Shuvo Maharat is a murder mystery film by Rituporno Ghosh. A film so well adapted from Agatha Christie's novel, I wouldn't believe without watching.

Rituporno just proved that he can make a successful movie of any kind. In this movie, we see prominent female stars Sharmila Tagore, Rakhi Gulzar who once ruled Bollywood. We see young Nandita Das, who became prominent later. Also loved Anindo Chatterjee's calm performance. And of course Tota Roy Chowdhury's acting too. Such a gala of stars and a mystery well blended- please watch this rare Bangla murder mystery and make your weekend watch a worth!

Chokher Bali is one of Rabindranath's notable fictions. It's very brave of Rituporno to capture the sound and environment of that age in his movie. It revolves around the life of a Hindu widow who makes a friend and becomes an enemy of some. The widow is young, she is beautiful and she is educated. But she is a widow. Among her many identities given by society, does she have a choice?

I would say, this is Aishwarya's most beautiful work. And also, no other director presented Aishwarya as beautifully as Ritupornon did in this movie. Man, she doesn't need any fashionable dress or any makeup on her face. A woman can look irresistible when she wears boldness, you have to agree on this after seeing her here.

Also loved Tota Roy Chowddhury's acting. Loved every scene! Who would say this isn't the 19th century. The wind was even of that era. So classic, so artistic, hard to move your attention from screen. Rituporno just raised the bar of his art in this one.

The movie starts with a young man capturing the traditional "Durga puja" festival in his native home. The whole family joins the festival and inner conflicts of the individual couples start to unveil. Rituporno presented the complex relations, situations that remind us of our own family rituals.

Mixed with tradition and conflicts- this movie ornaments itself as another classic Rituporno watch.

Once again, Rituporno crafted an intrinsic story of love and memory with minimal setting. The movie is inspired by O Henry's 'Gift of Magi'. Knowing so didn't give me a spoiler as it had its own twists.

The entire movie took place in three different locations/houses. The topic was also precise. That's something I like about Rituporno's direction- to the point presentation.

One of the rare gems in Hindi movies!

From Bangladesh to West Bengal.. to Sweden.. to so many places to lose count- the woman flies or flees. So that she can live, so that she can write what she thinks. So that she can sleep at night.

Her mind stays with her country, with her people. People, are they ready to accept her writing, accept anything that varies from the typical path of thinking?

Banished from her land, this writer's experience was the plot of this movie. The air of the movie held the depression of the writer, held her emotions- which I liked very much. Sometimes European music on the background, sometimes Bangla, it presented a very thoughtful atmosphere. It questions the spectators, whoever you are watching, can you live in this exile too?

The recitations of Bengali poetry throughout the movie brought extra charm. I was optimistic to watch this direction of Churni Ganguly and she amazed me so much! Such a good plot and good polish by the director. I would recommend this beautiful piece to you. Let's not forget a writer is an ordinary person. Let's not let the sword win.

You don't watch this movie, you feel it. You don't hear the poetry in this movie, you adore it. Such was Rituparno's Shob Charitro kalponik.

The dual life of a poet cut deep retrospective in his other half's life soon after he passes off. The wife suddenly realises that her husband seemed a different person now that he is gone. He is not her husband, not the poet, but he is his poetry, or who is he?

It's not just spectacular, you will ponder deeply who we are, after watching this beautiful piece.

Rituparno's movies are something else. Sometimes they will bring the most complex human intentions in such an illustrated way that you can't pick a side. Throughout the movie, you will watch but you can't opine what you would do if you had to wear the shoes of the characters.

The characters, their interactions boiled down to the most emphatic way. The casting was simply awesome. It's not easy to play such difficult roles and hats off to Kankana Sen Sharma for her indigenous acting skill.

Rituporno injected the right music and the right poetry in the right moments. And the black and white view added the utmost serenity. It was more like a piece of literature than a movie. A perfection.