One film, many stories! The new trend of Bengali cinema

Tollywood’s latest trend is multiple stories in one film. Acclaimed filmmakers are experimenting with this new genre. While many — filmmakers and movie buffs alike — terms it a bold and creative effort, the trend hasn’t gone down too well with a number of film freaks. It’s like a new kid on the block, so People will take time to accept the idea. These movies may amalgamate multiple unrelated stories of the same genre or flavour or it can also weave all the stories in one at the end. Though it’s a new trend, how can we forget Satyajit Ray's iconic ‘Teen Kanya’? These movies have also tried to juxtapose multiple stories in many ways. Check out the list of these Bengali films which have tried the new formula.

Celebrate love with Anjan Dutt’s ‘Finally Bhalobasha’ as his three idiosyncratic love stories in one film tries to redefine the age-old myths surrounding love. The first story revolves around a trapped woman in search of freedom. Raima Sen plays the oppressed woman whose marriage to a business man (played by Arindam Sil) falls apart as the husband regularly beats her up and can go to any extent of anyone comes in their way. Arjun Chakrabarty being his assistant often takes pity on the tortured wife and plans to help her escape the clutches of a brutal husband. The second story sees a dying man in search of a friend in Darjeeling. It has Anirban Bhattacharya playing a young man who dreamed of becoming an actor. However, his ailing health stops him from fulfill his lifelong dream and so he seeks friendship and remorse in the arms of his male nurse Suprobhat Das. The third story follows the journey of a lost girl, played by Sauraseni Maitra, in search of love in Kolkata. Coming from a disturbed family background she finally finds refuge in Anjan Dutt’s house who in his own way appreciates her independent life goals.

Pratim D Gupta’s ‘Ahare Mon’ can fill your heart with warmth while bringing back a smile to a tired soul’s face. It’s a true celebration of cinema and life! Deliberation in the design of four stories and the unpredictable equations between the lead characters has elements that right away inspire us to feel lucky for the little joys in life. The film doesn’t raise intellectual questions, neither has it a happy ending. The film only tells the stories often hidden in social norms and the realities of a mundane life. Pratim D Gupta not only delivers his finesse in storytelling but also surprises with the vibrancy in each of the characters. Together these characters make ‘Ahare Mon’ a vibrant kaleidoscope of life, filled with emotions and leave you with a smile or even a lump in your throat, yet fully satiated!

Bagh Bandi Khela stars Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jeet, Soham Chakraborty, Srabanti Chatterjee, Sayantika Banerjee, and Rittika Sen in the lead. It’s an anthology flick punching three different stories in one film. Directed by Raja Chanda, Sujit Mondol, and Haranath Chakraborty, these three films are respectively ‘Bagh’, ‘Bandi’ and ‘Khela’, first is an action thriller starring Jeet-Sayantika, second one is a comedy thriller which has Soham-Srabanti in the lead and the last one thrilling story of a lawyer (Prosenjit) who is having a tough time with his daughter (Rittika).

Sandip Ray’s ‘Chaar’ presents four stories in a singular narrative which define relationships aptly focusing on human emotions. The four stories are ‘Bateswarer Abodan’ by Parasuram, ‘Porikkha’ by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, ‘Kagtarua’ and ‘Dui Bondhu’ by Satyajit Ray. Emotions in each story are wrapped in simplicity and virtue with ease. The selection of actors is equally brilliant. From Paran Bandhopadhyay, Saswata Chatterjee to Sreelekha Mitra, Rajatava Dutta and Swaralipi, Abir Chatterjee to Koel Mallick everyone excelled in their roles and build such an impact that you would feel ‘Chaar’ wouldn't have been possible without these actors playing their characters.

This Sandip Ray movie has four ghost stories spun together by comical twist interlinked with unusual events. It’s a collection of 3 short films inspired by four Bengali short stories - Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay's ‘Bhut Bhabishyat’, Satyajit Ray's ‘Brown Saheber Bari’ and ‘Anath Babur Bhoy’. The background music of this movie also received great response. Both the cinematography and background score make us intrigued with every new story pillared by decent performances. Overall, Sandip Ray manages to churn out a fine one time watch with an exclusive merit of introducing us to the brilliant stories written by the two gifted masters.

‘Crisscross’ encapsulates the hardships of five lonely women from different sections of the society. Ira (Mimi Chakraborty) is a photojournalist literally married to her job and struggling to maintain a balance between her love life and professional life. Suzy (Priyanka Sarkar), an oppressed single mother, is struggling to raise her child. Rupa (Sohini Sarkar) falls prey to domestic violence. The ambitious Miss Sen (Jaya Ahsan) sees success over interpersonal ties running an advertisement agency. Lastly, Meher (Nusrat Jahan) is an aspiring actress looking for work opportunities. As the title suggests, the complex lives of these five women one day intersect and what happens next forms the crux of the mystery.

Director Ranjan Ghosh raises question against demonetization with four interlinked stories based on socio political struggle. The story revolves around the elements of love, separation, profit and loss. The world in this story is inhabited by a tribal couple Ram (Soham Chakraborty) and Sita (Arunima Ghosh) and a government clerk Khagen (Kharaj Mukherjee). An old brick kiln owner (Chiranjeet Chakraborty), his young wife (also played by Arunima) and her friend Mithun (Arjun Chakraborty); an anonymous prostitute (Rituparna Sengupta), her pimp (Dhee Majumder) and her client (Ritwick Chakraborty); and finally a young Dhaki Joga (Ritobroto) and his ailing mother (also played by Rituparna).

Directed by six different directors, it’s basically a collage of six films that explore the concept of moral aberrations, focusing on the six sins (based on Shada Ripu).The stories are completely different from one another; be it the narration or treatment. Directed by Arghyakamal Mitra, the first film is called 'Janmadin' and it deals with lust (kaama). Partha Sen’s ‘Pakshiraaj’, the second story captures the fallout of obsession (moha). The next offering is a story of greed (lobh). Directed by Indranil Roy Choudhury, 'Tapanbabu' is the best one amongst all six stories. The story that follows is 'Raagunbabur Galpo' dealing with the intricacies of rage/anger (krodh). Next comes 'Tarpor Bhalobasha' by Anjan Dutt which focuses on pride. Directed by Kaushik Ganguly, the final offering is 'Progress Report' which captures the vice of jealousy (maatsharya).