The Eunuch and the Flute Player

A Transgender love-drama movie. Extraordinary performances by lead pair. Both nailed it. A typical love story between A flute player and A eunuch. Love has no gender,cast,religion. The story is too good. And for this kind of story ..the Director show parallel screenplay which makes it even better. The connections linked present and past are too good especially in second half. With an outstanding climax Nagarkirtan steal our hearts. When the show is over almost my heart is filled with vaccum space. I was struck with unexpected ending. Hard to digest. Must watch. Highly recommended.

In the world full of cliché love stories, Kaushik Ganguly delivers a love story which doesn't remain an ordinary love story. I haven't seen such a movie in a decade or two. Ritwik Chakraborty and Riddhi Sen, who plays a transgender have put up a show which is beyond imagination. They have outdone their roles with so much ease. Every frame, every moment, every scene is directed so beautifully by Kaushik Ganguly. This will surely create a benchmark in the history of Indian cinema.

In one word it's a Masterpiece. A movie which is beyond reviews and awards. If you haven't watched it yet, please do catch this movie ASAP, for Madhu and Puti will stay with you even after you've left the theatres.

Nagarkirtan (2017) written and directed by Kaushik Ganguly is a sensitive essay of Puti's (Riddhi Sen) life. Puti is actually born as Parimal, a trans woman who faces hurdles and gender identity issues from the very childhood. Having faced deception in a relationship early in life, Parimal escapes from Bagnan to Kolkata, where he is inducted into a clan of eunuchs and other trans women and earns a living from begging. Love blooms yet again in his life in the form of Madhu (Ritwick Chakraborty), who doesn't care about Puti's sexual identity but wants to lead a life together. Nagarkirtan charts their journey as they plan their own little bubble where outsiders will not be able to judge them, and how Puti will undergo the physical and hormonal transformation to achieve his own desired gender identity.

In a place like India, it's still early days, and albeit there may be sympathisers and broad minded individuals, they remain far and few. Puti and Madhu's journey isn't an easy one - as they find themselves cornered by the insensitive and uninformed population that pushes them to the edge of a tragic consequence.

Riddhi Sen is simply awe inspiring. His performance is well nuanced, delicate and evokes instantaneous compassion with the character. Ritwick Chakraborty is natural with his flair for realism as always, helping Riddhi Sen bring out the very best. Together it's a crackling combination that stirs up a degree of discomfort initially, and then blends in empathy to the extent that makes us root for the couple and a happy ending. Nagarkirtan finally belongs to Kaushik Ganguly for his competent direction, costume design by Gobinda Mondal, cinematography by Sirsha Ray and a classic editing by Subhajit Singha.

Nagarkirtan by Kaushik Ganguly is the most powerful command made on eunuch culture, transgender practice & homosexuality in recent years. A spiritual poetry. Raw, real & moving. A very essential work of art. Ganguly is a magician. A jewel of Indian cinema. Must watch!

A tale of true magic of love... that draws our attention about the social prejudices & persecution...which acts as an eternal curse for those who are in love.

With 'kirtan' (devotional songs reciting about the love affair of Krishna & Radha) this film poetically depicts the passionate romance between (Krishna-Radha) Madhu-Punti in three phases 'pronoy', 'abhisar' & 'biroho'.

SCREENPLAY: Three timelines were overlapping with each other & running at a pace of perfect brilliance. So, when it approaches the climax the audience will surely feel the ache of 'Punti' that echoes with the cry of 'Radha'.

ACTING : Director 'Ray' had his 'Soumitra'. 'Kaushik Ganguly' has 'Ritwik'. 'Riddhi Sen' played the perfect female lead...As 'Aparna' for 'Apu'...(As when Sharmila Tagore paired with Soumitra Chatterjee in silver screen for Ray's Apur Sangsar/The World of Apu).

SOUND DESIGNING: Quintessentially appropriate. Communicates every deep emotions of this cinema.

EDITING : Played the most vital part to carry out the tone of this cinema from different timelines into a perfect continuum.

DIRECTION : After 'Cinemawala', 'Shabdo', 'Arekti Premer Golpo' & 'Chhotoder chhobi ', this film is another big contribution to world cinema from the director.

STORYLINE / PLOT : A simple love story which we were denied for 100 years of Indian cinema . India loves cinema & mainly cinema with love stories...no doubt all those thousands of love stories in Indian cinema created us , as who we are. The "story" of this cinema historically is a turning point for Indian cinema which provides us with the magic of love in it's truest sense.

It also removes the blindfold of illusion & lies which was created around love for last 100 years by Indian Cinema.

At the end of the whole journey ... With this spiritual upliftment, you as a person will surely be much more pervious to love & understand LOVE for what is.

A Must watch film...hopefully will be released in netflix for cinephiles around the globe.