2018 Roundup: These unexpected hits restored our faith in Bengali cinema

2018 has been a great year for Bengali cinema; mostly because this year we witnessed a number of meaningful films with hard-hitting content. Also, 2018 has shown us the taste of Indian cine buffs is changing now. Slowly but surely there's a big change coming! We now prefer to watch something that strikes a chord with us, instead of typical age-old masala films and we couldn't be happier with all these unexpected hits that proved content still remains the king. Take a look at these films which not only had a smaller budget but also won many a million hearts with thought-provoking content.

Directed by debutant Abhishek Saha, ‘Uronchondi’ enjoyed a decent business at the box office. Touted to be the first road movie in Bengali cinema, it narrates the story of four different people who embark on a journey together. The plot follows three female protagonists from three different generations - Chitra Sen, Sudiptaa Chakraborty and newcomer Rajnandini Paul, and a young lorry driver Chottu played by Amartya Roy. There are so many instances in our society in which women from a very young age confront oppression, torment and debauchery. The characters Chitra Sen, Sudiptaa and Rajnandini are playing portray the faces of such women who eventually stand apart after facing years of abuse and repression.

Soukarya Ghoshal's children fantasy drama ‘Rainbow Jelly’ surprised everyone with its unique content and went on to win several awards in international film festivals. It narrates the story of an underprivileged child Ghoton (played by Mahabrata) who stays with his angry uncle played by Kaushik Sen. His uncle rebukes him every time, so the kid is left with no other choice but to take refuge in the fantasy. One day, an angel named Pori Pisi (Sreelekha Mitra) visits him and says if the uncle is fed food of seven colours, he will become a different person. Pori Pishi prepares a rainbow jelly for the child and life is never the same for him again.

‘Pupa’ as unique the title of the film is, the plot is completely different from the typical commercial films we see. The family drama explores the theme of ‘Euthanasia’. For those who don’t know what ‘Euthanasia’ is; it’s basically the passive practice of intentionally ending one’s life to relieve pain and suffering. The film tells the story of Subhro who returns (Rahul Banerjee) India when his mother dies. When he is getting ready to head back to US, his father (Pradip Mukherjee) suffers a cerebral attack. Subhro’s uncle (Kamaleshwar Mukherjee) advices him to leave behind the emotion and go back to US. His fiancé, who is starting her integrated PHD in US, is now left with no other choice but to leave him and go ahead. Sudiptaa Chakraborty plays Subhro’s sister in the film. In this turmoil, a shocking incident leads to the climax of the story.

‘Shonar Pahar’ highlights the fading shades of an elderly person's life and how a strong bond is built between a kid and an old woman. The film, directed by Parambrata Chatterjee, tries to strengthen that bond further. Child artist Srijato with his superb portrayal of ‘Bitlu’ can certainly fill your day with so much happiness with a single smile. In today's era of the rat race, kids should spend more time with their family especially the grandparents who have the ability to nurture and shape their mind in the right way, that’s the message it spreads. The story is about an elderly woman who has to confront a tense relationship with her son and ultimately finds some sort of peace in her friendship with a little boy. Not only the story, Tanuja Mukherjee and Jisshu Sengupta’s presence in the cast have made this film worth a watch.

Pratim D Gupta’s ‘Ahare Mon’ can fill your heart with warmth while bringing back a smile to a tired soul’s face. 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.

You may not call it a box office hit but 'Nupur' brought a fresh air to love stories. In what will come as a big boost for independent filmmakers, Ranadeep Sarker’s rural love story ‘Nupur’ received love all around despite facing tough competitions from the big budget releases during Durga Puja. Made on a shoestring budget, ‘Nupur’ is set against the backdrop of 1970's Purulia. It’s a unique story of a young couple Nupur and Bangshi who can’t speak since their birth. Inspired by the epic love story of Radha and Krishna, ‘Nupur’ resonates a similar essence through a poetic and musical backdrop. The film also encapsulates Jaidev's ‘Geet Govind’ and the famous ‘Sukh Sari Kotha’, used for the first time in Bengali cinema, to draw a parallel between the divine love saga of Radha-Krishna and a couple from rural background.

Directed by Arindam Bhattacharya, ‘Flat No. 609’ made it big at the Box Office. Starring Abir Chatterjee, Tanushree Chakraborty, Soumitra Chatterjee, Mamata Shankar, Rudranil ghosh, Kharaj Mukherjee in key roles, the horror thriller revolves around a couple Arka and Sayantani who seek a broker's help to rent a property in Kolkata. After going through a number of houses, the newly-wed couple finally decides to rent a well-furnished flat in Rajarhat. While the husband works in an IT company, his wife is on a sabbatical and excited to settling down in their new flat. But after a shocking turn of events, the couple gets acquainted with their new neighbors who have some mysterious traits. What happens next forms the crux of the film.

Abir Chatterjee made intelligent and witty Sona Da all fun who has inclination towards both history and mystery!! His fans instantly connected with the character as he embarked on an adventurous treasure hunt! Abir’s smart appearance as the protagonist Subarna Sen AKA Sona da, a history professor from Oxford University, in this treasure hunt drama is the main USP to attract the audience. He has played sleuth characters like Byomkesh and Feluda, but as the young and intelligent heartthrob, Abir once again wins hearts.