‘Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti’: Five reasons to watch the social drama

Aritra Mukherjee’s directorial debut ‘Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti’ which has already made the Bengali movie goers buzzing about the film is set to hit the big screens this Friday. The social drama, bankrolled by Windows Production, also celebrates the International Women’s Day narrating the story of a female priest. The storyline makes one ponder about the outdated rites and rituals and questions the gender imbalance in society.

Soham Majumder who plays the male lead believes this film will spark dialogues on social stigmas faced by women even today. “Women still need permission before taking any decision. No matter how successful they are, they need to get married by 26. We don’t understand how deep the roots of patriarchy are, sitting in an urban setting. In urban areas, people talk about independence but don’t practise it in reality. Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti initiates a dialogue around these stigmas, which I think is very important. I will give you an example. I was reading the script with my mother and entire family. My mother skipped the word ‘periods’ whenever it was mentioned. I then realised the importance of the film in spreading awareness within our families,” said the ‘Kabir Singh’ actor.

Ritabhari Chakraborty who plays the lead character Shabari believes her core values match with Shabari’s. “It is a mohila purohit’er golpo. That is definitely an interesting premise, but what they have done with it was so engaging that I said yes, immediately…! In totality, it was almost blocking myself for four-five months. It was a lot of time, but I was so enthusiastic to play Shabari and be part of this film…. it is an important film. This film needed to be made right now. We talk about breaking menstrual taboos and equality of a man and a woman in a marriage and rituals like kanyadaan... which are demeaning and we are following because jug jug dhore choley aschhe. I am waiting how it will be received and perceived because it is such a bold and ambitious idea to talk about…. Menstruation is not something you discuss in a film, not in a family film for sure,” said the talented actress.

The story revolves around Shabari (Ritabhari), who is a lecturer and performing artiste. She is into another profession too. She is a woman priest! When a chance encounter with Vikramaditya (Soham) at a college function leads to a marriage proposal, she clearly tells the would-be groom about her multiple identities. Her words are misinterpreted and Shabari is forced to keep one important part of her life under wraps due to the stark differences between the worlds she belong to, pre and post marriage. It’s a dramatic comedy that makes one ponder about the outdated rites and rituals and questions the gender imbalance in society.

Co-Producer and director Shiboprosad Mukherjee says though every day is Women’s Day for us, Windows has decided to celebrate the day with a women-oriented film each year. “This year, we are presenting ‘Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti’. We haven’t seen any content with such an empowering and important subject.This film brings a very important message and comes up with a unique concept, we are hopeful that the audience will love the film. With this film yet again we are launching a new director, a new screenplay writer, a new on-screen couple. Hence we are really excited and hoping for the best," said an excited Shiboprosad.

It’s the first film featuring a lady priest as the protagonist. “The duty of a priest is to set up a connection with god and it is unfair that only males from an apparently high caste get to do the job. Not only women but also males from other castes cannot perform the rituals. Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti speaks against all this discrimination. It only requires one to have a pure mind to perform the rituals, since we are all born with a pure body,” explained Ritabhari.

As we have seen in the trailer, Shabari corrects the mantra being chanted by a priest at her own wedding. The actress adds besides chanting the mantras correctly, her character does not take away the offerings made to god, a practice widely associated with Brahmin priests and mocked in the film. “How can a priest who is greedy and refuses to perform rituals without a huge fee, or is primarily focused on looting people, set up the connection with god?” asks Ritabhari. Shabari questions the role of priests in society and begins by breaking age-old traditions.