"A"bohomaan Bengali Movie Review #BlogchatterA2Z

A week ago, I mentioned Rituparno Ghosh as the pioneer of Bengali New Age Cinema in my theme reveal post. For the first film in my 26-day journey, I have chosen one of his works, Abohomaan.

Synopsis

Abohomaan is a semi-biographical film that presents the biographical aspect through the shooting of a biopic about Noti Binodini, a famous theatre actress from 19th-century Bengali theatre. The movie begins with the death of a renowned director, Aniket Majumdar. A visit from popular actress Srimati Sarkar creates unrest among those present. Today’s Srimati was once Shikha Sarkar, an aspiring actress whose desire to work with Aniket led her to the same house where his lifeless body now lies. Her raw persona and straightforward approach, combined with her unwavering dedication to her work, remind Aniket of his wife, Dipti, in their younger days.

While working on his long-planned project about Noti Binodini—one that he had intended to pursue with his wife, Dipti, but had to shelve—Aniket falls in love with Shikha, renaming her Srimati. Dipti grooms Shikha to become the star of today. Although Aniket's affection for Shikha is more of a muse-artist relationship, the world perceives it as a romance, leading to turmoil in his previously peaceful family life. Dipti becomes estranged, and their son Apratim is left in shock, marking a dramatic turn in Aniket's life. Eventually, following Aniket's death, Shikha and Apratim grow closer, forming another relationship.

Review and Significance

The title Abohomaan translates to "the eternal flow," often used to describe time and rivers. Here, Ghosh refers to the enduring bond between an artist or creator and their muse, which never truly ceases to flow. This connection, which began in the 19th century with theatre stalwart Girish Chandra Ghosh and his mentee Binodini Dasi, continues with Apratim and Shikha, even after Aniket's death, encapsulating everything that has transpired in between. The raw emotions between a creator and their creations remain unrestrained by external influences, transcending obstacles and enduring indefinitely.

The powerful performances of all the actors, particularly Ananya Chatterjee as Shikha/Srimati, elevate this already stunning film. The director's choice of cast is commendable, as Ananya was celebrated for her role in the popular TV series Subarnalata (based on Ashapurna Devi's trilogy) at the time, showcasing her peak acting prowess. Her portrayal of three distinct personality transformations is flawless, transitioning from the unrefined and ambitious newcomer Shikha to her groundbreaking portrayal of Noti Binodini, ultimately revealing the diva Srimati of today. The three layers of her performance emerge beautifully.

Rituparno's inclusion of various characters illustrates the complex dynamics of relationships, even in vastly different settings. In one scene, Apratim's pregnant wife, Chandrika, asks her mother, Hasi, to obtain an autograph from Srimati, which does not go unnoticed by Dipti. Unsurprisingly, she reacts harshly, indirectly humiliating Hasi out of bitterness stemming from her husband's dead body lying in the house. This insensitivity towards pursuing film stars, especially considering that the focus is on Srimati—whom she views as her rival for her husband's affections—adds depth to the film. This significant inclusion of scenes and memorable dialogues makes Abohomaan an outstanding work of art.

Release, Cast, Characters

Abohomaan was released in 2009. 

Cast:

1. Dipankar De as Aniket Majumdar

2. Ananya Chatterji as Shikha/Srimati Sarkar

3. Mamata Shankar as Deepti Majumdar

4. Jisshu Sengupta as Apratim Majumdar

5. Riya Sen as Chandrika Majumdar

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