Tollywood’s most shining stars in the first half of 2019

Tollywood is all set for the second half of 2019. The first half has been an interesting journey for the Bengali film industry. While a number of films were termed hits, some went on to become blockbusters while a few of them didn't live up to the expectations at the box-office. As some actors and filmmakers disappointed some showed their class yet again. Among the actors, Abir Chatterjee has been most successful with a blockbuster ‘Durgeshgorer Guptodhon’. He dominates the Bengali box-office once again. Among the directors, the biggest surprise has been debutant Pritha Chakraborty whose ‘Mukherjee Dar Bou’ earned accolades. Scroll down to have a look at the other names who made their presence felt in the first half of 2019.

Pritha made her directorial debut with the superhit ‘Mukherjee Dar Bou’. It’s a well-executed engaging movie celebrating womanhood with so much detailing. The emotional family drama released earlier this year has received appreciation from all corners. It firmly establishes the strong bond between women necessary for the empowerment at the most core unit of our society - inside a family.

With one blockbuster ‘Durgeshgorer Guptodhon’ and two hits ‘Bijoya’ and ‘Tritiya Adhyay’, Abir has ruled 2019 so far. If there is one man from the Bengali film industry whom every girl would love to date, it's Abir Chatterjee. The fact that the much-desired Byomkesh Bakshi of celluloid is married in real life, doesn't even spoil his massive female fan following. Whenever he appears with that million dollar smile with a casual T our hearts surely skip a beat.

As usual Ritwick continues to win the audience hearts with some terrific acting in ‘Nagarkirtan’, ‘Jyeshthoputro’ and ‘Vinci Da’. Despite not being the conventionally glamorous or commercially on high demand actor; Ritwick Chakraborty’s acting brilliance, his unique choice of films and individuality has helped him create a completely different niche for him. Movie after movie, role after role, he has displayed time and again his acting prowess. Be it the finesse or the natural easement into his characters, Ritwick’s approach is both refreshing and emotionally authentic.

Anirban shines as the cunning cop Bijoy Poddar in ‘Vinci Da’ and surprises everyone with his playback debut with the melancholic melody ‘Kicchu Chaini Aani’ from ‘Shah Jahan Regency’. His comic avatar in ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’ also demands special mention. Anirban Bhattacharya’s brilliance as an actor has been proved time and again through all his films. Whether it’s the religious Hindu neighbour in ‘Uma’, the dark-shaded revengeful brother in ‘Ek Je Chhilo Raja’, the aimless rich son of an industrialist in ‘Shah Jahan Regency’, or the latest act as a short-tempered police officer in ‘Vinci Da’ – he has become a reel chameleon.

Riddhi excelled in his role of a transgender in ‘Nagarkirtan’ and stuns the cine buffs with a cameo in ‘Vinci Da’. Riddhi created pure magic transforming himself into a transgender Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Nagarkirtan’. It’s no surprise that he won the National Award for Best Actor for ‘Nagarkirtan’.

Rudranil showed his class yet again in Srijit Mukherji’s ‘Vinci Da’ as an actor and writer. He also wrote the script of ‘Bibaho Obhijaan’ apart from playing one of the leads. It seems Rudranil Ghosh has become a constant in Srijit Mukherji’s films in recent years including two of the biggest hits of 2018 - ‘Uma’ and ‘Ek Je Chhilo Raja’. Srijit even cast him as a private detective in ‘Shah Jahan Regency’. He has been in this industry for 15 long years. He has seen so many ups and downs in his career. Still, acting is a passion for the versatile actor. He lives for character roles that offer a wide range of shades

Ishaa grabbed attention with her natural acting in ‘Sweater’ and ‘Durgeshgorer Guptodhon’. In ‘Sweater’ Ishaa plays Tuku who is an under-confident girl. Before marriage her would be mother-in-law places a condition that she has to be an expert in knitting. Tuku reaches out to a relative to learn the art and eventually it transforms her into a different person. ‘Durgeshgorer Guptodhon’ sees her as Jhinuk, the sidekick of Sona da and Abir’s love interest.

The talented filmmaker has proved to be one of the most bankable directors in Tollywood right now. After the huge success of the first treasure hunt film ‘Guptodhoner Sondhane’ last year, Dhrubo Banerjee returned with the second installment of the franchise ‘Durgeshgorer Guptodhon’ and the rest we all know!

Their production ‘Mukherjee Dar Bou’ and directorial ‘Konthho’, both became superhits. The hit-makers once again made it big at the box office. Giving a highly talented director like Pritha the right platform to flourish was definitely commendable and ‘Konttho’ proves they do have the Midas touch. The film, which celebrates hope and fragility of life while dealing with the subject of laryngeal cancer, has struck the right chord with the audience.

Not long after her father's demise, Sudiptaa Chakraborty had to start shooting for ‘Jyeshthoputro’. Sudiptaa lost her father, actor Biplab Ketan Chakraborty, on November 30 last year while Jyesthoputro shoot commenced in Shantiniketan on December 4. Incidentally, the first scene she had to shoot was about her father's death in the movie and it seemed like the reel and real life merged that time. And what a performance the versatile actress delivered! It seemed the role of elder sister Ela to her two brothers played by Prosenjit Chatterjee and Ritwick Chakraborty was meant for Sudiptaa.

With ‘Ahaa Re’ director Ranjan Ghosh seems to have ticked all the right boxes given an unconventional premise. A rich Bangladeshi Muslim (Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo), a middle-class Indian Hindu, and the medium of food, the fusion of Epaar Bangla and Opaar Bangla, to set the course of their love story. There are some noteworthy performances to savour as well. Rituparna Sengupta has delivered with considerable restraint right through. As the old patriarch bristling at being addressed as meshomoshai, who is keen to learn magic even at this ripe old age, Paran Bandyopadhyay is exceptional.