Chaalchitro: The Frame Fatale

Kolkata is rocked by a gruesome murder, and the case lands on the desk of two seasoned detectives, Kanishka Chatterjee (Tota Roy Chowdhury) and Naseer (Anirban Chakrabarti) from the Kolkata Police Detective Department. Their instincts kick in as they notice an eerie resemblance to an old case. Joining the chase are the spirited young IPS officer Ritesh Kumar (Shantanu Maheshwari) and the dependable Bishwa (Indrajeet Bose). But as the investigation unfolds, the city's streets turn red with more victims, and the pressure mounts.

Nothing sets the mood on a winter night like a bone-chilling thriller, and Pratim D. Gupta delivers one with flair. Packed with a delectable plot and a handful of red herrings, the film pulls viewers into a rollercoaster of suspense. While it occasionally teeters on predictability, the story's pace, intensity, and edge-of-your-seat twists make it nearly impossible to look away.

Pratim masterfully scatters the pieces of his puzzle, leaving the audience to play detective. The first half grips you with razor-sharp efficiency, as every twist pulls you deeper into the mystery. Though the second half leans more heavily on its surprises, the film keeps the guessing game alive till the very end, ensuring a thoroughly entertaining ride.

The significance of backstories cannot be overstated; they are indeed essential particularly in the realm of investigative thrillers, where the inclusion of subplots is rather critical.

However, it is imperative that these additional narratives always maintain a seamless connection to the central theme. They must not drift aimlessly, resembling isolated entities in a vast void, devoid of purpose or relevance.

A striking illustration of this misstep can be found here, in a thriller that, despite possessing all the requisite elements, fails to reach its intended goals.

The problem lies in the script becoming excessively distracted or rather overly entangled in subplots, leading to the unacceptable neglect of the primary storyline concerning the serial killings, which is criminally sidelined for a major chunk of the duration.

Not to mention, one cannot overlook a myriad of inconsistencies & illogicalities woven into the screenwriting, elements that defy reason.

Performances, too appeared kind of superficial, particularly that of Tota Roychowdhury's, whose demeanor, dialogue delivery, and body language felt contrived, as if his headspace is confined to a singular emotional register.

In contrast, Apurba made a remarkable impression in a mere fifteen minutes of screen time, exemplifying what it means to be an impactful on-screen presence.

While the narrative may have a couple of shortcomings, the film is always one step ahead of you. The sharp editing and the crisp runtime further accentuate the depiction of police procedures and the execution of the crimes. Though it veers away from typical buddy-cop tropes, a limited series format might have allowed the story more room to breathe and develop.

The film does well in exploring the personal crises of its lead characters, weaving their emotional struggles seamlessly into the narrative. These moments of dramatic turmoil enhance, rather than detract from, the story. However, one subplot feels underdeveloped, contributing little to the overall plot. The interpersonal dynamics between the police officers are a highlight. Their differing priorities shape their approaches to the case, and the restrained use of banter ensures the focus remains on the events rather than the characters. Unlike many Bengali crime thrillers, the balance between character development and plot progression is handled adeptly here. That is where Chaalchitro scores, reaching a new height in Bengali cinema.

The cast of Chaalchitro delivers some of the best performances I've seen in recent thrillers. Kanishka, played with remarkable intensity, anchors the film, while the supporting characters bring their unique traits to the table. The murders are gruesome yet compelling, each one shedding light on the killer's twisted psyche.

The pacing is impeccable, with the story building up to an electrifying climax. The screenplay is sharp, and the dialogues are impactful. The film's background score is another highlight, enhancing the tension without overpowering the narrative. This is a film that demands your attention and rewards you with an unforgettable cinematic experience.

This film depicts a cat-and-mouse game between a cop and a serial killer on loose. While most of Indian murder mystery thrillers encircles on whodunit or howdunit, but this movie delves on whydunit genre which is in a way quite gripping.

The direction by #PratimDGupta is impeccable. He is not 'one of the', but the most underdog or underrated directors of Kolkata or Bengali Cinema, who has been silently and most consistently making wellcrafted films seasonally. With a perfect profile of work, his narrative style is non-linear mostly, but his story and screenplay with dialogues are well-written and engaging throughout.

Cinematography is of high order.

Editing is razor-sharp and crispiest to the core. The cuts are seamless and smartly executed and juxtaposed.

Music and the background score is respectively foot tapping and haunting as per the screenplay.

As per the performances are concerned, the actors have excelled in their individual parts with distinction marks. Even the supporting actors looked tailor-made.

Their Production house has made a superb and smart film.

Elderly people may give it a pass but urban audience must watch it to see a different side of Smarter and Literate Tollywood. Kudos to the whole team. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻