Me Movies More

Today, on the third day of the Blogchatter A to Z Challenge, I have chosen to review the Bengali film Cinemawala . Directed by Kaushik Ganguly, this film has been widely praised for its thought-provoking subject matter. Synopsis Pranabendu , an ageing man, owns a single-screen cinema hall called Kamalini , which has long since passed its glory days and is now closed. His attachment to the old projectors in this digital age is the reason for its shutdown. He lives a life filled with unhappiness, immersed in the boisterous memories of the past, spending most of his time in his deserted office alongside his devoted assistant, Hari . His son, Prakash , sells pirated CDs and DVDs, further straining their relationship and deepening Pranabendu's disdain for the modern digital age. Prakash's wife, Moumita , tries her best to care for her father-in-law and mend the fractured relationship between father and son, but her efforts are in vain. Prakash thrives financially by playing pirated ...

Today, on the second day of the A to Z challenge, I am choosing the film Buno Haansh as the subject of my review. Directed by Anirudhha Roy Chowdhury (known for Pink ), the film is based on a book by acclaimed author Samaresh Majumdar. Synopsis   Amal is a Bangladeshi migrant who works as a security guard in a shopping mall in Kolkata and struggles to make ends meet. His love interest is Sohag , a charming girl with artistic talent and eyes filled with dreams. At home, his mother and brother often create issues regarding their financial constraints, leaving his loving sister-in-law as his only source of comfort. A sudden encounter with an old friend leads Amal down a previously untrodden path—one of crime, secrecy, and risk. He becomes enmeshed in a dangerous world of smugglers and meets various notorious figures along the way. Initially motivated by greed and his friend Robin's constant push to make quick money, Amal eventually realizes he has become trapped in a treacherou...

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—Anik...

I have been planning this trip for many months but have not been able to go until now. My daughter was equally excited about the visit. With the new academic year starting next week, this weekend seemed the perfect time to enjoy a day at the Paradox Museum in Mumbai. So, off we went today! We had to book our tickets online, which cost Rs. 500 per person, including taxes. I selected the 12 PM time slot, and we received green badges for entry upon arrival.    Once inside, we were greeted by a checkered room and various fascinating installations, including a kaleidoscope. The museum features a height illusion room, a mirror room, and numerous other illusional activities and puzzles. Plenty of assistance was available, and the staff was helpful, kind, and ready to assist us. I was particularly pleased to see their patience with the children, who made up most of the visitors. The other attractions included the Shadow Freeze Room, the Mirror Illusion Room, the Infinity Tunnel, and s...

Every year, World Theatre Day is celebrated on March 27th. Last year, I created a post highlighting a few movies and web series based on Shakespeare's plays. This year, in honour of #WorldTheatreDay, I am adding some more titles to that list. 1. Arshinagar (2015): The first Bengali musical film, Arshinagar, is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in an urban context. Filmmaker Aparna Sen's innovative take on the story features memorable performances, especially by Jishu Sengupta as Tayyab (Tybalt). Dev plays Ranajay (Romeo), and Rittika portrays Julekha (Juliet), two lovers from rival families. However, one significant drawback of the movie is its mediocre music. A musical film requires soul-stirring music, especially for such a passionate love story, which makes the film's runtime feel prolonged. While it is an honest effort, it falls short of expectations, given the ensemble cast and the director's reputation. 2. Mayaa (2023): Directed by Raajhorshee De, this film ...

A few days ago, I had a humorous and interactive session with my fellow bloggers to discuss what we would name our AI selves. I, Reubenna, decided to call mine R"AI"benna.  Interestingly, I didn't have to think twice about the name; it clicked instantly. By simply replacing the two vowels in "Reubenna" from "EU" to "AI," I found the perfect name for my AI counterpart. I feel quite proud of this clever twist. However, being the overthinker that I am, I later considered the implications of the name.  1. AI is taking over many of the jobs we do: AI is increasingly handling tasks traditionally done by writers. Feed it ideas, and it generates a story. Provide it with data, and it produces an article. Give it facts, and it can create the news. So, what work is left for us? The idea, the observation, the feeling—can AI really replicate that? Can R"AI"benna feel what Reubenna feels, thinks, and observes? 2. RAI is also the name of Radha: Ra...