Sohini Sarkar: Bengali films of the actress you shouldn’t miss

Sohini Sarkar has always been a stupendous actress. Since her cinematic debut in 2013 film ‘Rupkatha Noy’, Sohini has come a long way. She is now one of the most sought after actors in the industry working with renowned filmmakers. While she didn’t enjoy a much-hyped debut and kick started her film career with small roles, she has never compromised on the quality of her characters. In fact, now that she has managed to create a niche for herself in the Bengali industry, she still prefers characters that are quite challenging. Here is a list of Bengali films of the actress you shouldn’t miss.

Just like the several-layered psyche of an adolescent boy, who becomes curious about everything he witnesses around, be it the footage of the unknown nature's domain in cable channels or a woman’s attractive nature, ‘Phoring’ explores many issues. A lonely child's failure to communicate with his real world and his fondness for a young lady teacher who finds out an uncanny spark in him: that’s what forms the crux of the film. Sohini delivered a riveting performance playing the beautiful young teacher. While teacher-student relationship remains the main plot, the sub-plots also make the Indranil Roychowdhury directorial worth a watch.

Director Arindam Sil's family drama, narrating the story of Durga Puja has a significant message for the society. A long lost belief that says, the goddess lives inside every woman, is what the film is all about. It's simply the courage of 'Durga,' a young lady from Sundarbans that stops the robbery in the Basak family on Dasami night. Sohini playing Durga earned accolades. Going against the social limitations and prejudices, Durga turns out to be the reflection of Goddess Durga, who protects everything good in this world.

‘Crisscross’ encapsulates an intriguing story of five women from the different strata of the society. Sohini essays out the role of a housewife Rupa, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Her husband abuses her whenever he gets the chance. On the other hand, her in-laws constantly pressurize and humiliate her for not having a child, hiding her husband’s inabilities. Rupa’s brother-in-law tries to take advantage of her drastic situation. Will she be able to fight back? That’s what forms the crux of the film.

This movie is a great example of Srijit Mukherjee's ‘treat to watch’ style of film making. The story highlighted a completely different image of the partition of India. A group of prostitutes played by Rituparno Sengupta, Saayoni Ghosh and Sohini Sarkar in this Bengali epic, who refused to leave their brothel for the creation of Radcliffe Line (a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan made on 17 August 1947 ). The honest and striking narrative Srijit used earned the film an 'A' certificate. The content he followed, received positive reviews although there were some factual mistakes.

With Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar in lead roles, Birsa Dasgupta's 'Shob Bhooturey' is a horror flick which from the very beginning attempts to scare everyone. The film’s second half is much more interesting and compact as the story gives so many twists and turns and holds on its grip till the end. Sohini Sarkar's character gives a mysterious chill throughout the movie. In acting, Abir Chatterjee’s performance portraying non-believer Aniket and Sohini as the mysterious girl no doubt presents the biggest gift for the fear-hungry audience.

Abir Chatterjee played the roles of both a 70-year-old Byomkesh Bakshi and his grandson Satyaki in Debaloy Bhattacharya’s spin-off ‘Biday Byomkesh’. Interestingly, the detective’s wife Satyabati is no more in this film but Sohini Sarkar, whom we have seen as Satyabati in earlier Byomkesh movies played Satyaki’s girlfriend. Throughout the film, Byomkesh's love for his family attempts to make him weak but the Satyanweshi in him stays truthful to the fact. Debaloy has also utilized the plot to concentrate more on the complex relationships in Byomkesh’s family rather churning out just another typical thriller based on the iconic sleuth.

‘Byomkesh Parbo’ successfully captivated the audience with a more gripping story and some unabated action. Abir as the quintessential cerebral Bengali sleuth revealed his daring side as he pulled off few daredevil stunts for the very the first time. Sohini Sarkar as his wife Satyabati tries to maintain the family man image of the iconic sleuth intact playing key role in the narrative. The film starts just after the independence, where the Byomkesh makes his way through the deep jungles of Dooars solving the mystery of a ghost-rider and recent murders in north Bengal.