Binodiini: Ekti Natir Upakhyan – A Riveting Tribute to a Theatre Icon
Binodiini: Ekti Natir Upakhyan directed by Ram Kamal Mukherjee is a cinematic masterpiece, which has been inspired from the real life story of Noti Binodiini Dasi.The film revolves around the journey of a young girl who belongs to a prostitution colony and showcases her struggle to become a great actress, despite being born and brought up in an environment dominated by prostitution culture.
The film begins by showcasing a young girl named puti(Swara Bhattacharya) whose mother was also a prostitute, had a great passion and enthusiasm for acting in the theatre despite her circumstances .So she requests and expresses her desire to Golap (Chandrayee Ghosh), a prostitute, who used to care and protect her like her own daughter, that she doesn't want to choose the life of prostitute and want to escape from the life of prostitution and seek a more respectable path.
Finally she manages to convince Golap and due to her request she gets a chance to act in theatre and gets her first lead role . Soon, Puti catches the eye of renowned playwright Girish Chandra Ghosh (Kaushik Ganguly), who is impressed by her exceptional acting skills. He decides to grooms her and launch her in his plays. So he takes her along with him for acting on his theatre. Later on , puti becomes a famous and hit actress due to her fabulous acting skill , and started to renowned by the people as Noti Binodiini Dasi. The rest of the film revolves around the obstacles or the challenges faced by Binodiini Dasi in her way of journey and the sacrifices made by her. The film also skillfully highlights the social norms, superstitions of the time, particularly the caste system and the belief that the lower-caste individuals were untouchable. Therefore, the film masterfully offers a glimpse into 19th-century Bengal, providing a nuanced portrayal of the era.
Talking of performances, Rukmini Maitra delivers a standout performance in the role of Binodiini Dasi. She perfectly fits into each frame and adds depth and charisma to her role by delivering spectacular and breathtaking performances. Her amazing facial expressions and dialogue delivery with deep enthusiasm make her character larger than life. Additionally, Kaushik Ganguly shines spectacularly in his role of Girish Chandra Ghosh, delivering a brilliant performance. Chandrayee Ghosh adds a strong presence to her character, Golap/Ganga Bai, with her stunning performance. Swara Bhattacharya also impresses as little Puti. However, Rahul Bose's character as Ranga Babu, feels underutilized and he could have been given more screen time. In contrast, Meer Afser Ali delivers an amazing performance as Gurmukh. Also talking about the other flaws, that the film's pacing falters with the introduction of Prince Pratap Babu of Jaipur (Vishwajeet Ghosh), leading to boredom. This portion feels unnecessarily stretched and could have been paced better.
Notably, the film impresses visually, with
Soumik Halder's cinematography, and the film's soundtrack, composed by Sourendro-Soumyojit, had tremendous potential, to generate interest among the audience. Two standout tracks, 'Kanha' (rendered by Shreya Ghoshal) and 'Hori Mon Mojaaye' (sung by Shuchismita Chakraborty) , adds charisma to the film , which was latter skillfully adapted from Girish Ghosh's original composition, featuring music by Jatileswar Mukherjee.
Additionally, once again a special mention must be made about Rukmini Maitra, who delivers a heart-stopping performance while recreating the role of Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in of the play of Binodini Dasi. She boldly recites her dialogues, adding depth and authenticity to Binodini Dasi's character. The powerful dialogues and compelling storytelling draw viewers into the world of the characters.The supporting cast also shined brightly by bringing depth and chemistry to the narrative. The extraordinary soundtrack perfectly complements the film's tone. The dancing scenes were expertly choreographed and were beautifully executed and also the filmmakers wisely choose the shooting locations that authentically recreate the world of Binodini Dasi's original story. The film also skillfully enhanced the emotional impact of the characters, instantly setting the tone of the film. A special mention must also be made about the costume designer, who created realistic and elegant looks for each character, particularly Binodiini Dasi.
Overall, this film is a heartfelt tribute to the iconic Binodiini Dasi, masterfully capturing the turmoil she faced as a pioneering theatre actress and how she sacrificed her most of the life in the name of theatre. Also, the director skillfully weaves in vintage photographs of Binodiini Dasi and Girish Ghosh, adding authenticity to the narrative. The film also meticulously recreates 19th-century Bengal, providing a compelling glimpse into the era. Despite minor flaws, this film shines with stellar performances, exceptional direction, and a powerful story. Engaging and immersive, it's a must-watch for audiences interested in the historical backdrop of early Bengali society.
