| Chokher Bali |
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Director: Rituporno Ghosh Made: 2003 Writers: Rituporno Ghosh, based on the novel of the same name by Rabindranath Tagore Genre: Drama
Cast: Aishwarya Rai ... Binodini Prasenjit Chatterjee ... Mahendra Raima Sen ... Ashalata Lily Chakravarty ... Rajlakshmi, Mahendra's mother Tota Roy Chowdhury ... Behari And others
Although a large part of the Bengali intelligentsia, as well as a sizeable segment of the general public, has denigrated “Chokher Bali,” it is, nevertheless, a definitely watch-able film. The main objections to the film have been for the casting of a big Bollywood name like Aishwarya Rai, which many saw as an attempt at blatant popularism; and Rituporno’s particular adaptation of this much loved Bengali classic novel, by a much revered Bengali icon. Many saw his adaptation as lacking the depth and the nuances of the master’s written work. Although this is, to some extent, true, one must keep in mind the much smaller canvas of a 2 hr something film, as opposed to an entire novel; one must keep in mind the shortcomings of the visual media where direct narrative detailing is concerned, as opposed to the written word.
The story revolves around two women, Binodini and Ashalota. Binodini is an accomplished woman for her time. At a period when it is still believed that a girl who is educated will suffer a fate worse than death – widowhood – Binodini is educated in English. She is beautiful, and strong, and knows her own superiority over the other women of her time and class. When Mahendra arbitrarily rejects her, as a candidate for marriage, and ends up wedding an ordinary, although good-hearted, typical Bengali woman, Binodini sees it as a personal affront. Her own short-lived marriage to a man who dies leaving her a very young widow, does nothing to alleviate her anger and hurt pride. What she does, to exact revenge, and how these actions of hers affect all the other people in her life, is what the narrative is about.
Binodini is a study in opposites, and although Rituporno has failed to catch the whole gamut of her character on screen, he has done a commendable job. The conflict within her, of hurt pride and baser nature on the one hand, and her nobler self (exemplified by her refusal of Bihari, and her ultimate dedication of herself to the fledgling freedom struggle in India) on the other, may have been too subtle for many to understand, but is nevertheless worth watching the movie for. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a story of straightforward adultery and a widow’s sexual appetite. In adition, the cinematography, the nuances created by brilliant camera work, etc make the movie one of the better films of our times.
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