Best performances by child actors in recent Bengali films

Over the years, Bengali cinema has pampered us with so many memorable films, but many of these films would have been incomplete without having kids as protagonists. These child artists in recent Bengali movies managed to cement their place in our memories. Soon, Raj Chakraborty's ‘Adventures Of Jojo’ will introduce a new child actor Joshojit Banerjee, son of popular actor Joyjit Banerjee, and we can't be more excited. Before that, let’s take a look at some of these child actors who have stolen the limelight with their super cute performances in recent times.

Brata and Tiyasha as Kalojam and Spaghetti respectively became household names with their stellar performance in ‘Haami’. Despite being a comedy film primarily, ‘Haami’ revolves around the burning issues that plague the younger generation today. Directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, it shows how minor issues are often blown up by overly concerned parents and suspicious school authorities. An innocent kiss between two cute kids fuels a whirlwind of controversies which reflect recent disturbing incidents in schools. While Gargi Rowchoudhury as little Bhutu’s mother brings life to a woman character who is aggressively protective about her family. On the other hand, Shiboprosad Mukherjee as Bhutu’s father with his diluted expressions, witty dialogues, and funny antics portrays the ultimate middle-class parenthood in a simple way.

An 8-year-old Argha Basu amused the audience with his cuteness in ‘Posto’ as the grandson of Soumtra Chatterjee. The unique bonding between a grandchild and grandparents is something to cherish. That’s what Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee’s 'Posto' teaches us with Soumitra Chatterjee, Lily Chakraborty, Mimi Chakraborty and little Arghya Basu Roy giving stellar performances. Beside little Argha, Jisshu Sengupta also became a show stealer, portraying the alcoholic and struggling painter who tries to be a good son and a good father at the same time. After all, it’s not easy to play a man who ‘dances to his wife’s tunes’ or one who is ‘dependent on his wife’s income’.

Little Ida Dasgupta, incidentally director Birsa dasgupta’s daughter, makes a superb debut at a small age in ‘Shob Bhooturey’. It’s no surprise that she has acting in her genes as she is also the daughter of actress Bidipta Chakraborty, the director’s wife. You won’t see her throwing dialogues but her big expressive eyes are effective enough to send chills down your spine. One can witness a glimpse of her mother Bidipta Chakraborty in her acting and expressions. Even the first look of the film featuring the mysterious eyes of little Ida, long before its release, generated a lot of curiosity.

Little Srijato grabbed all the attention irrespective of a stellar cast including Jisshu Sengupta, Parambrata Chatterjee, Tanuja, Soumitra Chatterjee. What happens when a little boy Bitlu, mischievous and smart meets an old woman? The result is a unique friendship. His adorable antics and unbelievable energy makes everyone fall in love with him. Yes, he is naughty but not a problem child. His life is somewhat different from other kids but he is already well aware of the mantra of staying happy forever. That’s what ‘Sonar Pahar’ is all about – Staying happy! The intense family drama introduces a cute little Bitlu at its crux. It's a movie that defines friendship. Bitlu with his naughty antics will no doubt put a smile on your face.

Mahabrata Basu’s heart-touching performance was the cherry on top for this emotionally drenched cinematic masterpiece. Soukarya Ghoshal's ‘Rainbow Jelly’ a child food fantasy film where the protagonist little Ghoton, a special child, wins against all the odds setting an example for the society. But, it's not just a winning story of Ghoton in the film's script but it's also Mahabrata Basu's real life story. Being a student of class seven, Mahabrata had to recover from Septicemia at a tender age. His determination, fight and never back down mentality to overcome the obstacles were no less than a film's narrative.

The two child artists bagged National Award for their terrific performance in ‘Sahaj Paather Gappo’. Directed by Manas Mukul Pal, it won many a million hearts at several international film festivals despite a disastrous year for Bengali cinema in 2017. The plot revolves around two young brothers Gopal and Chhottu who tries to remain optimistic facing all the hardships that the family goes through after their father meets with a horrific accident. The film is based on a short story by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.