Pritha Chakraborty to Srijit Mukherji: Here are the Best Bengali Film Directors of 2019

It was an eye-opening year for the filmmakers in Bengali industry. This is a year when tried-and-tested recipes turned out to be stale ones. Certain directors who took their erstwhile competitors for granted had to bit the dust too. The ones who made a huge impact are a handful of competent filmmakers who held firm to their unique subjects and gave some of the biggest Bengali hits in recent years backed by ample research. For some it was their directorial debut and some delivered their second or third film, still they managed to make an impact. Scroll down to know why these Bengali directors managed to leave a lasting impression.

2019 once again proved why Kaushik Ganguly is a master story teller always exploring unconventional yet eye-popping subjects. He had three releases this year as a director- ‘Bijoya’, ‘Nagarkirtan’ and ‘Jyeshthoputro’. Each one floored the Bengali cine buffs. While Bijoya is the sequel to his 2017 hit ‘Bishorjon’, in ‘Nagarkirtan’ the heart-touching representation of the world of transgenders is one of the best things happened to Bengali cinema in recent times. ‘Jyeshthoputro’ explored different layers of complex human emotions using a simple narrative.

For the first time in his career, Srijit had three releases in one year. From emotional drama to psychological thriller to an ambitious film based on true historical events, the range of topics was as different as chalk and cheese. In ‘Shah Jahan Regency’ he adapted the iconic story of Chowringhee in the backdrop of modern era and did his best to keep the basic emotions of the characters same. ‘Vinci Da’ isn’t a usual whodunit suspense thriller, instead the story runs through a different perspective focusing more on the purpose and the mental state of the killer. With ‘Gumnaami’, creating a historical ambiance with perfection that too in a limited budget isn’t a cake walk and Srijit did it nicely. Plus, handling the pressure of a film based on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s mysterious death is not an easy task.

Trust Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee to always weave their magic and treat the audience with something extraordinary. And this stands true almost in all their movies. ‘Konttho’ and ‘Gotro’ weren’t an exception this year. Displaying a flair for storytelling in its most basic form, the pair manages to mould their first film of 2019 ‘Konttho’ with love, attention to detail and elan. Rich in content, drama and sentiment, Konttho comes as a breath of fresh air in a world of generic action and synthetic emotion. Their second film ‘Gotro’ sheds light on the truth about Kolkata turning into an unsafe city. Plus, the elderly couples facing constant threat to their safety that making headlines every day is also the focal point. ‘Gotro’ begins with such a story but with more humour infused than the grim reality of the situation demands.

It’s often said that films hold up a mirror to society. But only a handful can do it like ‘Mukherjee Dar Bou’ and Pritha Chakraborty’s directorial debut is surely one of the best things happened to Bengali cinema in 2019. Every woman — mother, daughter, mother-in-law — will connect on a deep level with this modern-day beauty of a family drama. Even the most beautiful stories need to be told right. And that’s exactly what Pritha has done. She has woven a simple web with a handful of powerful characters and let them carry you along on their journey towards a better life. ‘Mukherjee Dar Bou’ is the story of almost every Bengali household presented through a simple, straightforward narrative.

Indraadip Dasgupta makes a sparkling debut as a film director with ‘Kedara’ as he successfully paints a beautiful yet pathetic picture of loneliness and isolation. With a small but stellar cast, realistic dialogues and surreal execution, his film comes as a breath of fresh air in a cinematic world full of synthetic sentiments. Like his illustrious musical career, Indraadip has no doubt set high expectation for his next films as a director. Cine buffs will be eagerly waiting for ‘Agantuk’ and ‘Bismillah’, his next two projects.

We have already seen how engaging his Byomkesh and Goyenda Shabor films can be, but Arindam Sil is not someone who will sail through in his comfort zone forever. So, this year he introduced a new detective to Bengali cinema – Suchitra Bhattacharya’s iconic literary creation Mitin Mashi. Being family entertainer, the film is neatly wrapped up without many hitches. Mitin Mashi is a simple, engaging and well-executed film. It has beautiful coupling of tabla beats and private investigator Pragya Paromita aka Mitin’s fight sequences. From the first such fight scene to the time when the end credits roll, every frame in the film is unpretentious and detailed without any forced treatment. In Arindam’s detective film, it’s not just a whodunit crime thriller, instead, he prefers to add some potion of drama based on human emotions. Mitin Mashi is also not an exception.

Churni Ganguly with her second directorial ‘Tarikh’ paints a sensitive portrayal of a man more specifically, a man’s memories – that his close ones fail to cling on to after his unexpected death. ‘Tarikh’ is a superbly well-written film. Churni takes her time to slowly unravel each of the character’s nature patiently peeling it layer by layer, never rushing a scene or inserting unnecessary shot. Also, her eye for detail is something to look forward to. The beauty of the film also lies in how it deals with death. It doesn’t focus on death itself, but on its impact — on how different people react to the void left behind by the sudden loss of a near and dear one.

Just like 2018, this year as well Dhrubo Banerjee hits the box office bull’s eye with Durgeshgorer Guptodhon. Dhrubo manages to stay true to the film’s genre and its first installment, ‘Guptodhoner Sondhane’, and definitely makes for a good watch. Yes, his film is a two-hour-long lesson on Bengal’s rich history and traditions. But this coin has two sides. On one side, it’s a refreshing tour to Bengal’s history, traditional values and customs, much like a strong documentary feel. On the other, there’s the thrill of the treasure hunt. In a nutshell, Dhrubo knows how engage his audience. We wish him all the best for his next project ‘Golondaaz’ which again traverses through Bengal’s history. It’s based on the father of Indian football Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari and has Dev playing the titular role.