Sep. 07, 2021|France|131 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bangla;Drama
Description: Once Upon a Time in Calcutta, released in 2021, is a cinematic masterpiece by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. The film brilliantly transforms the mundane portrayal of Kolkata into a magical narrative. Often criticized as a dying city, Kolkata comes alive in this movie, revealing its tales of defeat and loss. Sengupta’s seamless storytelling contrasts the city’s struggle for progress with the disillusionment of its inhabitants.
The movie opens with the haunting image of a funeral pyre. Ela (played by Sreelekha Mitra) and Shishir (played by Satrajit Sarkar) return home, devastated by the loss of their daughter. While Shishir finds solace in his Alsatian dog and prepares porridge, Ela isolates herself, drowning her grief in alcohol. Within minutes, the director skillfully establishes the couple’s strained relationship, setting the tone for the film filled with poignant moments.
Ela, however, is not one to dwell in sorrow. As the host of a popular astrology show on television, she aspires to leave her husband’s home and pursue a brighter future. When her attempt to secure a home loan fails due to insufficient documents, she seeks her share of an inheritance—an old, once-glorious movie theater now guarded by her stepbrother Bubu (played by Bratya Basu). Bubu, a brooding loner, clings to the theater like a ghost, refusing to sell this relic of the city’s glamorous past.
The film further explores Ela’s pursuit of a better life in a city where chit-fund scammers exploit the vulnerable for quick gains, while opportunists masquerading as sober individuals resort to harmless lies for fleeting moments of romance.
Cast director: Aditya Vikram Sengupta
Cast actor: Sreelekha Mitra, Shayak Roy, Bratya Basu, Arindam Ghosh, Satrajit Sarkar, Anirban Chakrabarti, Reekita Nondine Shimu, Tridib Kumar Sengupta, Loknath Dey
Original name: Once Upon a Time in Calcutta