Directed By - Sujoy Ghosh
Starring - Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Saswata Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukherjee, Indraneil Sengupta, Abir Chatterjee, Dhritimaan Chatterjee, Darshan Zariwala, Nawazuddin Siddique, "Kolkata"
In one of the early scenes of Sujoy Ghosh's "Kahaani" we see a cab driver comment on how it is the first time he is driving a customer to the police station directly from the airport. This sets the tone of the unique story of "Bidda" Bagchi and the unique atmosphere that Ghosh crafts around it.
As is known to most Kahaani is the story about pregnant (read very pregnant) Vidya Bagchi (Balan) who comes to Kolkata from London in search for her missing husband, Arnab Bagchi, who arrived in the city on an 'assignment' two months prior. She files a complaint and finds an able companion in Sub Inspector Satyaki aka Rana (Parambrata). The trail goes cold with most people denying the very existence of Arnab Bagchi until the sudden realisation of one of the supposed employers of her husband triggers a deadly cat and mouse game. The Intelligence bureau gets involved,desperate to hide few 'dirty secrets' of their own. A paid assassin (saswata) goes round finishing off one by one the people who can lead Vidya to her husband. Anything more is a giveaway.
The fact that i have named Kolkata as a star in the film will be very obvious to anyone who sees the film. Much like Mumbai became a character in Kiran Rao's "Dhobi Ghaat" or Washington became a character in Oliver Stone's "JFK", Kolkata is a (very important) character in Kahaani. Sujoy Ghosh does not show the glossy side of Kolkata nor does he show the under privileged Kolkata, instead showing the Kolkata we see everyday with people sleeping on the street, with their regular adda sesions in tea stalls, in the absolute mayhem of metro's and minibuses. He displays the magnificent spirit and passion this city has. Right from the people refusing to pronounce Vidya correctly to the impish errand boy who befriends Vidya, Ghosh displays the warmth this city exudes. Ghosh's vision of Kolkata is of a culturally alive city where everything from nosiness to absolute indifference has a certain level of comfort and warmth. It truly made me fall in love with this city all over again.
Of the cast, Parambrata puts up a commendable act as the rookie cop who aides Vidya. It is easily the most important role after Balan's and Parambrata displays just what a seasoned actor he is. With the supporting cast Ghosh pulls off what could be considered an ensemble in terms of Bengali Cinema. From Satyajit Ray favourites to modern day theatre actors Ghosh gathers the best of the best. Dhritimaan Chatterjee has precious little to do as the IB Chief but his sheer personality lights up the screen. Kharaj Mukherjee as the lethargic officer in charge potrays humourously the state and attitude of policemen in Kolkata but the best performance from the supporting cast is that of Saswata Chatterjee. Saswata plays a LIC agent by morning and paid assassin by night (a unique combination to start with) by the name of Bob Biswas. Biswas's style is to first greet his targets courteously and then shoot them in cold blood. From the way he walks to the way he expresses himself, Saswata creates an unique antagonist on the lines of The Joker. Saswata Chatterjee is easily the biggest surprise of the film. But as one would have expected the film is primarily pulled through by a stunning 'Bidda' (Kolkata's version of Vidya) Balan. From the first frame to last Balan captivates you with the power of emoting. Vidya balan plays a vulnerable yet determined woman with elan and this performance assures her even more silverware. Vidya Balan proves yet again that when it comes to performance she is way ahead of her contemporaries (male and female)
At 128 minutes Kahaani is compact and far from boring. Ghosh displays a rare sense of pace that is so lacking in our directors (read karan johar and Ashutosh Gowariker). With not a single item song or random jig, Ghosh lets the story take the front seat and how. While there are a lot of flaws when you retrace your steps, it is shielded by Ghosh's powerful direction. After dismal failures in the form of "Home Delivery" and "Alladin" Sujoy Ghosh finally hits the nail with his fourth screen outing. It is a film made from the heart and is evident in every frame. Another commendable feature of this film that is lacking in most other films is the detailing. Every character serves his or her purpose in Vidya's journey and not a single character is uselessly wasted (another thing you should keep in mind if you plan to crack the mystery before it is panned out). Another beauty of this film is how Ghosh uses real crowd situations in Kolkata to create the tension in the scenes. Notice the climax which is shot during Dashami.
In all Kahaani is a message that with directors like Sujoy Ghosh we shall soon reach newer heights of cinematic brilliance. This is a must watch not only for the thrilling moments that pan out but also because its a film that has stellar performances and will make you fall in love with the city of joy
Rating - 9.0/10
