Baksa Badal

When I encountered this one, I wasn't aware that the great Satyajit Ray was associated with it. I was surprised to find out that the screenplay was written was him but it was directed by somebody else. With his name associated and his discoveries Soumitra Chatterjee and Aparna Sen starring in it, you couldn't possibly lose.

This is a romantic comedy (one wouldn't usually associate this genre with Ray) which involves the accidental exchange of identical looking suitcases whilst on a train journey. The protagonists opens the suitcases and find out that it doesn't belong to them. After going through the contents they start wondering what the other person is like and start making assumptions based on its contents (who wouldn't?). Does it lead to the meeting of the two owners of the cases? Do they fall in love? You have to watch it to find out.

It is a rare person from West Bengal who hasn't watched this film and it is universally loved. The actors were very popular in that era and went on to star in many more films and are cinematic legends. I would, however, warn you about holding a high expectation from this film. It is an out and out commercial pot boiler and not one of those artsy and intellectual fare one expects from Satyajit Ray. But don't be too quick to judge and dismiss it. It is a thoroughly enjoyable and a memorable film, the premise of which it still relevant today and would make a successful film in the box-office if remade in this day and age. I am giving it an 8/10 for pure entertainment value.