Ghawre Bairey Aaj

What happened to Aparna Sen? My hopes were set high by the choice of the relevant political issues and, of course, the fact that this is an adaptation of the fascinating Tagore novel. Why did you need to ruin the novel by doing this? The film throws away its potentials through undeveloped, unnecessary subplots. And the actress is just not up to the mark. A film on such a burning issue ought to have been much more responsible. Et tu, Aparna!

This is an interpretation of Tagore's story set in the India of 2019 where buoyed by political forces, a large part of the population has experienced a renewed recognition of their religious identity. If you have seen the original Ray classic, this film is bound to get you at least interested. Some of the incidents shown don't come across as strong plot-builders and more as half-hearted attempts to build the central characters. Art direction is wonderful, and is able to transport you into the fabled life of Delhi's intelligentsia. Tuhina's performance never slips, and Anirban is pretty solid. It is the more seasoned Jisshu Sengupta who is unconvincing at times, especially because lots of viewers have Soumitra's performance in the Ray film in mind, and this character is not one-track at all. While your mind does wander to Ray's classic several times during the film, the end does hit you and wraps up the film pretty well. There is inspiration from Painted Veil and the Gauri Lankesh incident (Sen dedicates the film to the social activist). Definitely not Sen's best directorial effort.

''And they lived Happily ever after.....'' Well this didn't apply to the life of Sandeep, Bimla (a.k.a Brinda) and Nikhilesh Choudhary. Directed by Padma Shri and National Award winner, Aparna Sen - Ghawre Baire Aaj is truly a cinematic experience to its utmost supremacy. A modern retelling of the Tagore's novel, "Ghawre Bairey" it is a story of Love, Friendship, Illusion, Truth and above all "Clashing Idologies" Story : The Tagore's Ghawre Bairey deals with a complex love triangle of Nikhilesh, his wife Bimla and his friend Sandip. Bimla - who has never known any other man except her husband, realises that there is a perplexing emotions of her relations with Sandip. The film explores the emotional upheaval attached to this Love triangle. It is a socio-political drama which hit the thetre yesterday and a film which you should definitely go and watch. Now, I was going to give a review when I saw that the film has a got a lot of negative reviews all over the internet. So, I have decided that I will tell you some reasons which I have liked and disliked in the movie and then I will leave it to you. REASONS TO WATCH THE MOVIE : 1. Brinda's Story- The film has given Brinda a new dimension. The film tells her past. The film starts with Brinda addressing the audience, a snippet of childhood as how she happened to be this little skinny girl who happened to run around in the fields of Jharia till one day her parents died and she was taken to her Amma's (grand ma's) place in Delhi where she used to work as a Nanny in Nikhilesh's place. There she was brought up as their own daughter and then again we are brought to today's time when she tells us that she works as proof reader at the Oxford press and married to Nikhilesh. Although they have a huge age gap, they still share a very healthy relationship and Brinda respects a Nikhilesh a lot for the person he is. 2. Clashing Ideologies leading to change of Equation- Nikhilesh and Sandeep were childhood friends. They went to the same school and college. 20 years after their college, we see Nikhilesh is an editor of a digital newspaper called India Online and his friend Sandeep is an aspiring right-wing politician who wants to establish India as a Hindu Nation. Sandeep, who was a leftist in his collge days today turned into a right wing nationalist due to a chain of events that happened in the film and that has been shown by the director with brilliance. 3. The modernised adaptation- What was shown by Tagore and Ray was a pre-independence problem, " Swadeshi Movement" Although we have all read in our History books that Swadeshi Movement eventually lead to the Brits leaving India but we don't know what were the sufferings of the poor shopkeepers had been during those days. We get to see that from Nikhlesh's eyes in Ghawre Baire . Although Ghawre baire Aaj tells a completely different story. It tells us about the Hindu Muslim conflicts, the poverty of the Bastar region and a conflict of opinions regarding a dispute piece of land in Bastar. While Nikhilesh and his people wanted to make a Hospital out there for the poor and under privileged of that area, Sandeep and his party wanted to make a Temple. The conflict is also between a man who acts because the action is profitable (Sandip) and one who acts only when it is good (NIkhilesh) 4. Nostalgia- Anirban Bhattacharya, @JisshuSengupta and @TuhinaDas in the lead and @AnjanDutt and Rwitobroto Mukherjee in key roles this film surely triggers nostalgia. WHAT I DISLIKED ABOUT THE FILM WAS : The film finds itself burdened by the heavy conflict between its political ideology and the human drama. The scene of Brinda's observation of Sandip, wondering "if only Nikhilesh spoke as passionately", becomes an allegory on the current world seduced by leaders that are brash in speech and direct in action, often to distressing effect. Yet, on the screen, the scenes play on with staid effect. I personally think, Aparna Sen would have done better to focus on the human drama and let the politics evolve through it.

Talking about the acting. Every one has portrayed their character in the bestest way possible. Kudos to Tuhina Das for her work is something I have truly become a fan of. Nevertheless, all the other actors did equally well. Not worthy of these much of negative reviews. Must Watch if you are a Movie Lover.

This movie is a representation of Tagore's story, rewritten in today's perspective. The symbolic narrative of Dalit siding with liberal ideology is a passé. And should be abandoned. The liberal saviour played by Anirban Bhattacharya stresses on the 'Ps', 'Ts' and 'Ks' May sound enduring to the ear, but that was not needed to subjugate the broken Bangla spoken by Tuhina Das. The only justified role and performance was of Jishu Sengupta who was supposed to be the exploiting Hindutva Brigade soldier. The movie is not a great work of Aparna Sen either.

I did not read the original novel,but suspect it had lots of insight. Allowing that the historic background has been altered for me as an outsider the politics was interesting--modern day problem is containing hate. I was impressed with th three main actors--only conscious of having seen one other Aparna Sen film she dealt with the emotions very well. Also thought the cinematography was subtle and as with the background music helped set mood. Very good.