Dec. 25, 2015|India|151 Min.|n/A
Genre: Bangla;Romance
Description: “Arshinagar,” released in 2015, is a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet.” Set against the backdrop of land mafia conflicts, the film was directed by Aparna Sen. The story revolves around Dev, who portrays a character inspired by Romeo, a member of a band named “Garage Band,” and Rittika Sen, who plays Juliet as a young and innocent girl. Notably, Aparna Sen chose Rittika for her youthful appearance, which complements Dev’s character.
The cast includes legendary actress Waheeda Rehman as Rittika’s grandmother, Roopa Ganguly and Kaushik Sen as Waheeda’s on-screen children, and Jaya Seal Ghosh and Kamaleswar Mukherjee in pivotal roles as Dev’s mother and Rittika’s music teacher, respectively. Jisshu Sengupta delivers a standout performance as the film’s antagonist, inspired by Tybalt, while Swagata Chakraborty adds depth to the narrative with her portrayal of a character blending the Nurse and Chorus from the original play.
The film explores themes of religious intolerance and psychological complexities, aiming to offer a fresh perspective on Shakespeare’s classic. While the performances are praiseworthy, especially those of Jisshu and Swagata, the execution of the storyline falls short of its potential. Despite its flaws, “Arshinagar” remains a bold attempt to merge contemporary issues with the essence of “Romeo and Juliet.”
Cast director: Aparna Sen
Cast actor: Dev, Rittika Sen, Jisshu Sengupta, Roopa Ganguly, Waheeda Rehman, Kamaleshwar Mukherjee, Koushik Sen, Shankar Chakraborty, Subhasish Mukherjee, Santilal Mukherjee
Original name: Arshinagar