Nov. 28, 2013|India|100 Min.|n/A
Genre: Bangla;Drama
Description: The movie *Shabdo* (2012) follows the story of Tarak Dutta, played by Ritwik Chakraborty, a foley artist who becomes so absorbed in his work that he begins to lose touch with verbal communication. Instead, his mind becomes consumed by background sounds, isolating him from the world around him.
The film opens with Tarak’s worried wife taking him to a psychiatrist, played by Churni Ganguly, seeking help. The psychiatrist determines that Tarak’s hearing is perfectly fine; however, his intense focus on ambient noises causes him to ignore spoken words. During their sessions, Tarak is more captivated by external sounds, such as traffic or the clicking of a Rubik’s cube, than by the doctor’s words. Although the psychiatrist insists he needs treatment, Tarak refuses to acknowledge any problem.
In an attempt to help him, Tarak’s wife takes him on a holiday to Siliguri. Yet, even in the serene environment, Tarak remains fixated on natural sounds like birds chirping or flowing water. He tries to reassure his wife that his behavior is simply part of his profession, but his detachment grows more concerning.
As Tarak begins to resist treatment, tensions rise. In one intense moment at his recording studio, he destroys a microphone in frustration after the doctor tries to communicate with him through headphones. His refusal to seek help leads to his job loss, plunging him into deep depression and disorientation. Haunted by constant sounds and unable to cope, Tarak eventually attempts suicide.
The story concludes with Tarak being admitted to a rehabilitation center, where he undergoes therapy by listening to recorded human voices daily in an effort to restore his sense of normalcy. *Shabdo* is a poignant exploration of obsession, isolation, and the struggle to reconnect with reality.
Cast director: Kaushik Ganguly
Cast actor: Ritwik Chakraborty, Raima Sen, Churni Ganguly, Srijit Mukherji, Victor Banerjee, Pradip Rai, Rajat Ganguly, Arun Guhatharkurta, Samita Saha, Bidyut Das
Original name: শব্দ