Sharthopor, a film by Annapurna Basu, is a slowly but powerfully unfolding family drama that revolves around the situations of siblings, their rivalry, their heritage, and even their identity, with a great deal of subtlety and heart. Koel Mallick and Koushik Sen star in the main roles with Ranjit Mallick and Anirban Chakraborty in supporting roles. Produced by Nispal Singh under his banner Surinder Films, the movie was released coinciding with the occasion of Kali Pujo and Diwali.
A Story Rooted in Emotion and Conflict
The movie revolves around the sibling pair of Aparna (Koel Mallick) and Saurav (Koushik Sen), who are tied together through the memories of their childhood and the sharing of the house in their ancestral home by the river. The tranquility of the two siblings is disturbed when Saurav makes a big decision to change a part of the house into a boutique homestay and subsequently, Aparna declares her equal share. What initially appears to be a property dispute soon turns into a reflection of deeper grievances and the changing dynamics in the family. The film observes that the fight is a way to see how daughters in the family are sometimes not given their due share in the legacies the family leaves behind.
Performances That Anchor the Drama
Koel Mallick as Aparna, gives a very mature and subdued performance that not only shows the prevailing mood of the character but also gives an impression of the character being very wise and longing at the same time with the help of the elegant poise. Koushik Sen, who plays the principled but vulnerable brother, is a deep character driven by the internal struggle of his character. The performances of Ranjit Mallick and Anirban Chakrabarti in the supporting roles add to the weight of the story. The film’s accurate characterisation and its emotional clarity notwithstanding the slow patching of narration.
A Beat That Moves Slowly but Meaningfully
Sharthopor does not hurry; rather its scenes are revealed with the slow and steady rhythm of a family memory instead of the rush of the filmic. The director is very careful and does not go for the unnecessary melodrama or paint the male character in a completely dark shade (which is a common trope in contemporary Bengali family dramas). Instead, she handles the drama by using the silences of the living and the glances of the conflicts. A number of the audience may say the movie has a slow pace, but the reward will be big for those who are patient and engaged. The cinematography and music intertwine to present the reflections of memory, place, and identity. The courtroom drama portions also work very well with subtlety in making and sincerity in performances.
Final Verdict: A Contemporary Bengali Family Drama That Resonates
Sharthopor is a very mature family legal drama with nuanced characters and is probably the first of its kind in the Bengali film industry. Along with a Bhai Phonta festival, Sharthopor opens up as a light-hearted family drama that every generation can relate to. The focus is on human emotions rather than extreme actions and male-bashing; it’s your perfect family film on this Diwali.
You can watch Sharthopor at your nearest theatre.
Buzztag Rating: 4/5
