Kaalbela
Encyclopedia
kaalbela is a 2009 Bengali film
directed by Goutam Ghosh .The film is starring Parambrata Chatterjee
, Paoli Dam
, Santu Mukherjee and Soumitra Chatterjee
. This film is set against the background of the Naxalite movement. Based on a 1980s novel by Samaresh Majumdar
, the film sets itself up, quite self-consciously, within a certain tradition of films, namely radical political Bengali cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. It thus establishes an intertextuality
and a certain connection with them. By situating itself and the story it has to tell, within this matrix of the 1970s radical Bengali cinema, Ghose anchors the film squarely within that time. The mood and the events certainly, but even the way black and white shots are used, underlines a somewhat documentary – and thus temporally limited – way these sequences are put to use.
, during hostile times (1967), to study at the Scottish Church College. He is scheduled to take refuge at the residence of his father’s friend Mr. Debabrata, but he accidentally gets shot in the limb and ends up at the Calcutta Medical College. Eventually things move on and Animesh develops a deep friendship with Debabrata’s daughter Neela. He takes admission in the M.A classes of Scottish Church College on Bengali Literature and ultimately becomes intertwined with the unresting times of the youth intellect.
He turns to become a Communist under the mentorship of Ramen and Subash Sen, but after a year he feels that their party (B.P.S.F) has been deviating from the ideals of building up an egalitarian society. With the idealistic ideas of Subhash Sen and others Animesh rediscover himself as a hardcore Naxalite, rampaging the interiors of northern West Bengal. In the meantime Animesh gets ripped up between his ideals and his love (Madhabilata). Madhabilata gets pregnant out of wedlock while Animesh abandons her for greater idealism. Animesh’s roommate, the unquenchable poet Tridip, accompanies him with a dreamy vision of a noncompartmentalized nation. But outrageous planning leads the Naxalite movement to be a tragic demise.
Subash Sen and other leaders get slaughtered by the brutal Congressian Police. Tridip is shot dead in front of Animesh and Animesh is tortured by the state to such an extent that he becomes crippled. His nervous systems (below and from the hips) breaks down completely, making him a man who can sit and stagger. Madhabilata gives birth to a baby boy (Arka). Neela stands beside Madhabilata like a wall and delivers immense support. Finally in 1977, the Left Front Government decides to release every political prisoner; a devastated Animesh comes out from jail custody after meeting minister Sudip (his compatriot during his days at the Scottish). The film ends with silver lining when Animesh unites with his estranged family in a slum (wife and son) with nothing to vie for but with a spark of hope against aghast capitalism and return back to mainstream with a new theology.
Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema refers to the Bengali language filmmaking industries in the Bengal region of South Asia. There are two major film-making hubs in the region: one in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh .The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890s, when the first...
directed by Goutam Ghosh .The film is starring Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee
Parambrata Chatterjee is a Bengali Indian male actor and director of television and films.-Career:His directorial debut feature film is [Jiyo Kaka] starred by Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh....
, Paoli Dam
Paoli Dam
Paoli Dam is an Indian Bengali actress. She is from Golf Road, Kolkata and came into prominence with her 2009 Bengali film - Kaalbela, directed by notable Director Gautam Ghose.-Education:...
, Santu Mukherjee and Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee or Soumitra Chattopadhyay is an iconic Bengali actor from India, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with the great Bengali film director Satyajit Ray and his constant comparison with the Bengali screen idol Uttam Kumar.-Background:Soumitra graduated from...
. This film is set against the background of the Naxalite movement. Based on a 1980s novel by Samaresh Majumdar
Samaresh Majumdar
Samaresh Majumdar is a well known contemporary Bengali writer. He spent his childhood years in the tea gardens of Duars, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India. He was a student of the Jalpaiguri Zilla School, Jalpaiguri. He completed his bachelors in Bengali from Scottish Church College, Kolkata. His...
, the film sets itself up, quite self-consciously, within a certain tradition of films, namely radical political Bengali cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. It thus establishes an intertextuality
Intertextuality
Intertextuality is the shaping of texts' meanings by other texts. It can include an author’s borrowing and transformation of a prior text or to a reader’s referencing of one text in reading another. The term “intertextuality” has, itself, been borrowed and transformed many times since it was coined...
and a certain connection with them. By situating itself and the story it has to tell, within this matrix of the 1970s radical Bengali cinema, Ghose anchors the film squarely within that time. The mood and the events certainly, but even the way black and white shots are used, underlines a somewhat documentary – and thus temporally limited – way these sequences are put to use.
Plot
Animesh Mitra is simpleton who arrives at Calcutta from JalpaiguriJalpaiguri
Jalpaiguri is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Jalpaiguri district, and the divisional headquarters of the North Bengal region.-History:...
, during hostile times (1967), to study at the Scottish Church College. He is scheduled to take refuge at the residence of his father’s friend Mr. Debabrata, but he accidentally gets shot in the limb and ends up at the Calcutta Medical College. Eventually things move on and Animesh develops a deep friendship with Debabrata’s daughter Neela. He takes admission in the M.A classes of Scottish Church College on Bengali Literature and ultimately becomes intertwined with the unresting times of the youth intellect.
He turns to become a Communist under the mentorship of Ramen and Subash Sen, but after a year he feels that their party (B.P.S.F) has been deviating from the ideals of building up an egalitarian society. With the idealistic ideas of Subhash Sen and others Animesh rediscover himself as a hardcore Naxalite, rampaging the interiors of northern West Bengal. In the meantime Animesh gets ripped up between his ideals and his love (Madhabilata). Madhabilata gets pregnant out of wedlock while Animesh abandons her for greater idealism. Animesh’s roommate, the unquenchable poet Tridip, accompanies him with a dreamy vision of a noncompartmentalized nation. But outrageous planning leads the Naxalite movement to be a tragic demise.
Subash Sen and other leaders get slaughtered by the brutal Congressian Police. Tridip is shot dead in front of Animesh and Animesh is tortured by the state to such an extent that he becomes crippled. His nervous systems (below and from the hips) breaks down completely, making him a man who can sit and stagger. Madhabilata gives birth to a baby boy (Arka). Neela stands beside Madhabilata like a wall and delivers immense support. Finally in 1977, the Left Front Government decides to release every political prisoner; a devastated Animesh comes out from jail custody after meeting minister Sudip (his compatriot during his days at the Scottish). The film ends with silver lining when Animesh unites with his estranged family in a slum (wife and son) with nothing to vie for but with a spark of hope against aghast capitalism and return back to mainstream with a new theology.
Cast
- Parambrata ChatterjeeParambrata ChatterjeeParambrata Chatterjee is a Bengali Indian male actor and director of television and films.-Career:His directorial debut feature film is [Jiyo Kaka] starred by Rituparna Sengupta and Rudranil Ghosh....
....Animesh - Paoli DamPaoli DamPaoli Dam is an Indian Bengali actress. She is from Golf Road, Kolkata and came into prominence with her 2009 Bengali film - Kaalbela, directed by notable Director Gautam Ghose.-Education:...
...........Madhabilata - Santu Mukherjee.....Animesh's father
- Soumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra Chatterjee or Soumitra Chattopadhyay is an iconic Bengali actor from India, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with the great Bengali film director Satyajit Ray and his constant comparison with the Bengali screen idol Uttam Kumar.-Background:Soumitra graduated from...
.........Animesh’s grandfather - Rudranil GhoshRudranil GhoshRudranil Ghosh is an Indian Bengali actor of TV and films.-Awards:* 2007: BFJA - Best Supporting Actor Award for both Kantatar and Refugee* 2011: Zee Bangla'r Gourab - Best Actor in a Negative Role for Byomkesh Bakshi-Filmography:...
.....Tridib - Bratya BasuBratya BasuBratya Basu is a Bengali professor, dramatist, director, actor and a politician. Basu is currently the West Bengal's minister for higher education. He was elected a MLA, from the Dum Dum constituency in 2011 Assembly Election of West Bengal.-Early life:Bratya Basu was born in Calcutta to noted...
- Santilal Mukherjee.....Subhash Sen
- Anandi Ghose....Neela
- Anirban Guha
- Chhanda Chatterjee
- Mousumi Saha......Animesh step mother
- Partha Banerjee
Crew
- Director Goutam Ghosh
- Producer Prasar Bharati
- Music Director Goutam Ghosh
- Story Samaresh Mazumdar
- Screenplay Goutam Ghosh, Sanat Dasgupta
- Dialogue Goutam Ghosh
- Cinematographer Bijay Anand, Goutam Ghosh, Indranil Mukhopadhay
- Editor Shuvro Roy
- Art Director Sameer Chanda
- Costumes Designer Neelanjana Ghose
- Audiographer Goutam Nag
- Sound Designer Anup Mukhopadhyay, J. D. Babu
- Publicity Design Gautam Barat
- Playback Singer Paoli Dam, Shrabani Sen
- Chief Assistant Director Dulal Dey
- Make Up Amit Ganguly
- Still Photographer Amal Kundu, Sujit Sarkar
- Production Manager Kalyan Dasgupta, Sanu Bandyopadhyay, Surajit Dasgupta