Kora Kagaz is overall a realistic, simple and enjoyable family drama. The story itself, however, though handled with understanding and honesty, is nothing extraordinary and it has its share of unrestrained emotions. It is about a young married couple. She comes from a rich family, and he is a simple professor who lives a poor lifestyle with his aunt. She enters his house and the problems begin mainly because of her mother, who was never really happy with this marriage.
The film stars Jaya Bhaduri in a fantastic author-backed role. She carries the film on her able shoulders, and is undoubtedly the main reason it works. There is something inevitably compelling about this pretty, petite and naturally gifted actress. She is always restrained and real, she never goes over-the-top, even when it is easier to do so, and rather than acting her parts, she inhabits them. And indeed, hers is an exceptional, nuanced portrayal that is replete with depth and maturity.
Anil Ganguly is one film director who was probably keen on making meaningful mainstream movies, which had both the conventional ingredients of popular cinema and a fair share of substance. The authenticity with which Kora Kagaz portrays the complexity of marriage and relationships is appreciable, and at the same time it has entertainment value and mass appeal. It is overall a well-made Hindi picture of the 1970s, but Jaya Bhaduri makes it even better and a must-watch.
