Sraboner Dhara

Story: Renowned doctor Nilabha Roy (Parambrata) is fighting his own battles while trying to treat his geriatric patients. Will an Alzheimer's patient, Professor Amitava Sarkar (Soumitra Chatterjee), and his wife, Subha Sarkar (Gargee Roychowdhury), show him a new path?


Review: Sraboner Dhara doesn't use any brilliant frame or a great colour palette that makes it a treat for the eyes. Yet, the film draws you with its poetic flow that's woven around several small, but real joys, surreal moments and deep sadnesses.

When Dr Nilabha Roy meets his patient Professor Amitava Sarkar and wife Subha Sarkar, he is embroiled in his own personal battles. But he begins Sarkar's treatment like any other Alzheimer's patient but along the way, gets to solve his own life's issues. Thouigh his family accuses him of denouncing his past struggles with limited means and becoming too focussed on earning big bucks, he is never seen as cutthroat competitive. The script does well weaving in his modest upbringing, ancestral home and childhood friends - all of which he wants to stay aloof from. But harping on the fact that Nilabha is only keen on climbing to the top is a bit repetitive in the first half.
Through different sub plots, the film seems to be reminding Nilabha of all the possible ties he wants to leave behind. Most of the time, it feels that the script is written in a way that makes his loved ones put undue pressure on him. And all this while, all he wants is to uplift his folks. But they try to chain him down. The otherwise ethical and just doctor just wants an honest, good life for everyone. Though the film tries not to blatantly comment on what is right and what is wrong, it does take a side at times.

The screenplay takes an interesting turn after the interval. Throughout the runtime of the film there's an undertone of sadness and the untoward situations life has to offer. But leading up to the climax, it doesn't dwell on the sadness. Rather it has lighter moments, thrill and tension that lets the audience feel each character's journey. The screenplay also shows the tussle between an ethical doctor and the corporate-styled hospitals he works for. The film reveals the inhuman side of such hospitals and the lure of money.

The scenes between Soumitra Chatterjee and Gargee Roychowdhury will give you hope amid despair. Both the actors played them well as expected. Chatterjee is brilliant once again. His lost gaze and helpless mumblings very well portray an Alzheimer's patient. Parambrata with the longest screen presence in the film has done a very good job too. Daminee Basu needs a special mention as his assistant.

The film directs you towards new beginnings even as there is a nagging reality of being worn out by life's many struggles.