"U" Tsab Bengali Movie Review #BlogchatterA2Z

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Directed by Rituparno Ghosh, Utsab is the story of a joint family get-together during Durga Puja. I have chosen to review it for my 21st day of #BlogchatterA2Z journey.

Synopsis

Bhagabati's family has come together to celebrate their ancestral Durga Puja, a tradition that has been upheld for generations. Her two sons, Asit and Nishith, along with their two wives, her two daughters, one son-in-law, and three grandchildren, all gather for the festivities. However, due to difficulties in maintaining the ancestral house, they decided to sell it to a well-known builder named Shishir, a decision that all the brothers agreed upon. The elder daughter, Parul, opposes selling the house to this particular builder, while the younger daughter remains distant from the discussions.

The film is set against a simple backdrop and focuses on each character's internal struggles and challenges. The revelations are subtle, flowing naturally with the story rather than being overly dramatic. The issues that arise between the characters stem from their individual insecurities, each connected to deeper underlying themes.

Review and Significance

Utsab means festival, and Durga Puja is the grandest celebration in Bengal. The entire family comes together to celebrate the festivities. The reunion of family members is a celebration in itself. However, there are glimpses of heartbreak, financial insecurities, and past traumas that resurface during this time. 

Increasing distance between characters, driven by financial constraints and job insecurity, complicates their family bonds. Disagreements arise due to unresolved issues from past relationships. It almost feels like the characters are celebrating their own struggles. The house they are planning to sell symbolises all the events they have gone through, bearing the marks of their experiences. 

Mamata Shankar's performance as the elder daughter, Parul, is extraordinarily moving. Dipankar Dey, in his brief appearance as Shishir, delivers a deeply felt portrayal of his feelings for Parul. Their reunion after many years is arguably the best scene in the entire film. It is subtle, highlighting the apprehensions from both characters, and the longing to communicate after years of separation is conveyed with great finesse by the director.

Overall, Utsab is an impressive film that depicts the typical struggles within joint families.



Release, Cast and Characters

Utsab was released in 2000.

Cast

Madhabi Mukherji as Bhagabati

Pradeep Mukherji as Asit

Bodhisatwa Majumdar as Nishith

Mamata Shankar as Parul

Rituparna Sengupta as Keya

Dipankar Dey as Shishir


I'm participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Comments

  1. Rethink MindfulApril 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM

    I haven't watched this film yet. Where's it available for free? I think Rituprna Ghosh was one of the best directors of Bengal. His films were masterpieces! - Swarnali Nath (The Blissful Storyteller)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reubenna DuttaApril 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM

      Yes, he was a brilliant filmmaker. This film is available on Youtube

      Delete

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