6 Bengali Fantasy Films to Watch

I had a chance to watch Kalki recently. It was a wonderful experience and Prabhas was mind-blowing as Bhairav/Karna. After watching it, I wondered if we have such fantasy films in Bengal. Then, I managed to narrow it down to a few Bengali Films that had successfully brewed reality and fantasy over the years. 

1. Jomaloy Jibonto Manush: One of the best classic comedy films of the 60s, this one had one of the most celebrated comedians of Bengal, Bhanu Bandopadhyay, in the lead role, supported by Basabi Nandi as his love interest. The story is of a simple and honest man courting the daughter of a wealthy village landlord who disapproves of the relationship. The girl commits suicide, and the man leaves everything in grief when 2 Yamdutas, by mistake, take him to the court of Yama. What happens then is a full episode of comedy of errors and brilliant games between one single man and the Gods in Heaven. Bandopadhyay is as funny as ever and was supported aptly by some noted actors of that time like Jahar Roy, Chabi Biswas and Pahari Sanyal. This one is a must-watch.

2. Ashite Ashio Na: Another gem of Bhanu Bandopadhyay, this film is about an 80-year-old man, much neglected by his entire family, who by chance gets back his youth along with his wife. The plot is amusing, and the performances are equally memorable. Most cine-lovers use the one-liners as funny references to date. The quick wits and presence of mind executed by the newly turned young couple to fool the police and other people can make the viewers crack with laughter. 

3. Kshudhita Pashan: This film by Tapan Sinha had Soumitra Chatterji and Arundhuti Devi in lead roles. Based on  Tagore's story, the film shows a young man who travels to an old mansion and experiences uncanny incidences beyond explanation. The film gets the audience glued to the screen. I wish the print of these classic films were restored to connect with the exact mood of such creative geniuses as Sinha.

4. Patalghar: Imagination and creativity took a back seat in Bengali films during the 80s and 90s. One of the few films that brought back fantasy was Patalghar, in 2003,  based on a novel by noted writer Shirshendu Mukherji. An orphan boy gets a colossal mansion based on a will made by one of his relatives. He shifts there and encounters strange people, goons, the ghost of a genius scientist, an alien and a young researcher. Everyone is after a unique instrument that acts as a weapon to turn everyone into Rip Van Winkle. The plot is exciting and clever, with impressive performances by Soumitra Chattterji, Mita Vashist, Biplab Chatterji, Kharaj Mukherji, Manu Mukherji and Ramaprasad Banik. The music by Debojyoti Misra blends perfectly with the plot.

5. Goynar Baksho: Mousumi Chatterji is among the most underrated actors. Her comic timing is simply brilliant, which she has proved in films like Ogo Badhu Sundori. The lack of good scripts and a decline in the overall quality of Bengali films in the 80s limited the scope of good actors to give their best. Thanks to Aparna Sen for bringing back Chatterji in her 2013 film, Goynar Baksho. And what a performance she gave as an apparition of an old woman who handed over her jewellery box to the meek daughter-in-law of a household dominated by ruthless male members. The film also stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Saswata Chatterji, Koushik Sen and Paran Bandopadhyay. Chatterji's conversation in pure East Bengal dialect is hilarious, where she teaches the daughter-in-law how to be intelligent and independent.

6. Bhootpori: I recently watched this film and was not aware of it earlier. After researching, I discovered that the director Soukarya Ghoshal had made another Fantasy film called Rainbow Jelly earlier, which could have been included in the list if I had watched it. However, this film is also quite enjoyable. A small boy visits her mother's ancestral house, where he wanders throughout the day and befriends a thief and the ghost of a beautiful woman. Some very dark secrets of his mother's family are revealed, entirely changing the perspective of the much-celebrated and respected family background. The movie has a unique concept and a good storyline. However, some of the scenes look forceful to prolong the runtime. One of the most visually impressive and creative shots is that of the beautiful woman when she realizes she is an apparition with a weightless body and uplifts herself over a boat floating on the river banks. Jaya Ahsan is apt as the gorgeous ghost, and so are Ritwik Chakrabarty, Shantilal Mukherji and Sudipta Chakraborty.