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This film is a standout example of mainstream entertainment, seamlessly blending action, romance, drama, relationship dynamics, and socio-political themes- elements that are rare in the Bengali film industry for some time. Yet, it manages to avoid becoming a chaotic mix. Anchored by a solid screenplay, it captures the socio-economic shifts of the 90s, the decline of the trade union movement, changes and crises in personal values, and the gradual marginalization of certain communities. Against this rich and complex backdrop, the movie had a lot of promise, and it delivers on many fronts- especially with its subtle anti-establishment undertone that feels strikingly relevant at times.

Based on true events, it's a reminder that sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. However, while the directors' commitment to realism is admirable, it might have kept the film from reaching the heights of a grand cinematic spectacle. Even so, it brings a breath of fresh air to mainstream Bengali cinema, shifting the focus back to grassroots stories. Nandita Roy and Shibprasad Mukherjee seem to have cracked the code, with Shibprasad once again proving himself as a masterful actor. It's a timely film that will hopefully inspire others to step out of their comfort zones and explore new narratives.

The movie is like a sweater, beautifully crafted by a grandmother for her newly born grandchild, knit with utmost thoughtfulness and care to pass on her love and warmth to the little one. It's a tale of friendship between two individuals of different generations, united thorough similar perspective to celebrate life that is a chaos and struggle, depicted through the city of Kolkata which is present in every aspect of the movie as the most powerful supporting cast.

It is not verbose and on the contrary so subtle and simplistic that the viewer wouldn't realize when he has set on an internally emotional journey of human transformation that would leave few teardrops clinging onto the corner of the eyes or when there would be a lingering smile on his face. The movie starts like a Dutt signature film that one expects it to follow the Madly Bangalee pattern but then it does breakthrough and transcends to something else altogether. It gets woven through so many magical scenes that one would be tempted to describe some of those but words won't be doing justice (its so tempting but don't want to give any spoilers. Still one should lookout for the scene where Ranjan sits together to have lunch with fellow actors and also the last scene). The moral dilemma and conflict of the urban, of a modern citizen has been so well captured but with a refreshing humor and backed by brilliant editing, cinematography, and timely musical scores. This is one hell of a tribute to Mrinal Sen as the man's worldview has been presented through the relationship of Mrinal and Anjan brilliantly depicted by organic and spontaneous acting by Dutt himself and Sawon Chakraborty. I was ready to give the movie a 10/10 if the Kolkata panorama locations were more varied.

Watching a film like Chaalchitra Ekhon, in OTT platform makes one realise how we as viewers have failed good cinema. The impact of the movie has made me buy a HDMI cable to screen it on TV for my parents and especially to my father who is a massive fan of Mrinal Sen as a director and Anjan Dutt as an actor. This should have been screened at every hall throughout the Bengal, to be viewed by the maximum audience to watch what indie Bengalee cinema can be, to experience how a director outdoes himself to create his magnum opus till date.

As a fan of gore and dark noir went with loads of expectations- first half was off to a near flawless flight but then the tailspin which began post-interval took down the whole movie.

Excellent BGM, magnificient cinematography and out of the world acting by Ranbir (what a brilliant actor he is!) fell short to save the movie ridden with lack of depth and emotion in the storyline. The loosely written plotlines and characters severely dilapitated Ranbir's character as well because the other characters were so underdeveloped. Lack of motive in even the central character resulted in a lack of conviction in the whole story to such a level that after taking in so much of grandly choreographed violence, one is left scratching head wondering everything happened for what exactly! Emotion got translated i nto only one sided shouting and the viewer is left alone to experience an exhausting and frantic TV debate show where only the TV anchor gets to shout.

Severe formula plotpoints and scenes , some of which are inspired from Godfather,OldBoy(2003), The man from Nowhere (2010) Rajneeti and even Kabir Singh were put together in such a way that one is left doubting whether the director wanted to copy from his own previous success just because it worked earlier. But it didn't result in anything like Kabir Singh because everything was so incoherent. The brilliant opening of the movie, by the director's own obcession of using pointless violence (or might be a desperate attempt to cover up the flaws in storyline) got reduced into one and only point- who can shout the loudest! Or thats what a predatory animal is supposed to do- a non-human who shouldn't be part of humane society but gets occassionally breaded by our society. It emanates an excruciatingly agonizing world around it; unable to love, empathize, dialogue & sense of integrity but is just filled with suffocating anger & treachery.