I had one nagging doubt, going in for 'Atthoi'. One litmus test, if you may. Would the film be effective for an audience that had never read 'Othello'? (Or watched 'Omkara' for that matter?)
For the most part, the answer is in the affirmative, and I can't be happier about it. Arna Mukherjee's directorial debut (adapted from the now-famous theater play) is raw, moody, and entirely cinematic. Overstylized and indulgent, for sure. But entertaining nonetheless. It almost takes you by surprise from the get-go. The Bangla cinema audience is so used to mediocrity at this point, that a project that attempts anything remotely cinematic amazes us instantly.
'Atthoi', with its constant fourth-wall breaking, smart camera work, gorgeous visuals, and amazing musical score, grabs the audience by their throats and pulls them into the world of 'Vinsura'. It's hard to escape the intensity that the movie unleashes from the very beginning, and you can't help but surrender to this understated stage play and its never-ending barrage of tension.
It's an enthralling theatrical experience with Anirban Bhattacharya, pulling off an all-timer of a performance. He is in exemplary form in this movie. Single-handedly transforming 'Atthoi' into a one-man show. A solo play of sorts, where he screams, shouts, cries, and abuses in rampant feats of villainy. He chews the scenery with glee and hams it up, cartoonishly, whenever the occasion calls for it.
It's effective. His motivations are vague. His intentions are disdainful. The connivance makes your skin crawl. The performance does the maximum heavy lifting in elevating the end product. So much so that Arna's portrayal of Atthoi ends up falling short of the mark. Him and Sohini's Diamona (and their undercooked arcs) seem pale, and devoid of chemistry when compared to Anirban and his manic take on Gogo. Almost like a proverbial double-edged sword that cuts both ways.
The dialogue is intriguing. Hit-or-miss, at times. Sometimes crude, sometimes prone to expository soliloquys, considering the scope of the venture. Several sensitive topics are broached as well. Some, like cast identities and colorism, take precedence, staying true to the original source material. While others, like poverty and social oppression, are introduced but not really explored beyond the basic surface level. Mostly in favor of the tantalizing relationship drama.
Or, as Gogo calls it, 'The Game' and its dismal repercussions.
However, the runtime makes its presence felt by the end. There's a shallow attempt at commercialisation that doesn't really work out for the movie. The screenplay drags on by the second half. The engagement falters as the tension slackens. The movie parades slowly towards the 'Tragedy of Atthoi' and you can sense the gloom taking over. The penultimate descend feels slightly repetitive and rushed as well. Thus, the weaker (see : loopy/fantastical) ending stretch makes this one a 4-star watch. Not one star less, not one more.
As such, go out and watch 'Atthoi' for all it's pent-up angst. Watch it for the moody shots of winter vistas and decaying humanity. Watch it for the subtle homoerotic tension seeping through. Watch it in theaters to experience something fresh and visually rewarding in the Bengali language. God knows, the industry needs more of this. God knows, we, the ticket payers, do as well.
More of this. Fingers crossed.
