December 24, 2010 : Film: Arekti Premer Golpo
Director: Kaushik Ganguly
Cast: Rituparno Ghosh, Jishu Sengupta, Indraneil Sengupta, Raima Sen, Churni Ganguly, Chapal Bhaduri
Rating: ****
Being the first feature film based on the concept of homosexuality after the decriminalization of the Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which previously condemned same sex in India, ‘Arekti Premer Golpo’ was looked forward to, but not only by the homosexual population in the country. The Kaushik Ganguly film is the first silver screen appearance of filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh and every section of the Bengali film audience had been waiting with bated breath to watch him act.
Considering it is his direction that has won several Bengali stars the National Award, Rituparno Ghosh has undoubtedly put up a brilliant performance even in front of the camera. However it will also be fair to say that playing the gay filmmaker Abhiroop Sen must have been easy for Bengali film industry’s favorite Rituda. Another revelation is Indraneil Sengupta who has been giving consistently good performances ever since he has set foot in Kolkata.
The film centers on filmmaker Abhiroop Sen and his bisexual photographer Basudeb played by Rituparno Ghosh and Indraneil Sengupta respectively, both characters are into a homosexual relationship. The duo is based in Delhi but come to Kolkata to film a documentary feature on Chapal Bhaduri, the theater artists who essayed only female characters in his active days, who is in reality a homosexual but was never able to make known his feelings due to the trappings of the society he lived in. Chapal Bhaduri features as himself in the movie. He loves the way Abhiroop Sen handles his life independently and with so much confidence.
After ‘Arekti Premer Golpo’, we would definitely like to see more of Rituparno Ghosh in front of the camera.
