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The Prologue
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| native_name =
| name = The Prologue
| image = nirontor.jpg
| director = Chandrasish Ray
| producer = Prosenjit Chatterjee
| writer = Chandrasish Ray
| music = Avijit Kundu
| cinematography = Soumik Haldar
| studio = Nideas Production
| distributor = Zee5
| released =
| country = India
| language = Bengali
}}
'The Prologue' is a 2019 Bengali drama film directed by Chandrasish Ray and produced by Prosenjit Chatterjee. The film premiered through Zee5 on 28 June 2020.
Plot
Entwined with their duties, responsibilities and livelihoods, people seldom communicate their simplest of thoughts, even to the ones they care about the most, filling them with abject solitude. However woeful things may seem, it is inevitable that life goes on, and it's futile to stop and complain. Through 'Nirontor', director Chandrasish Ray tries to explore themes of life, and the solitude and responsibilities it often entails.
The film opens with a middle-aged civil engineer, Biplab Sen (Prosenjit Chatterjee) and his project assistant, Bhaskar Mitra (Satyam Bhattacharya), who are in search of a virgin location to set up a new resort in an exotic, remote mountain area. They are completely detached from the rest of the world with no mobile network, and on top of that, they don't get along, and have very little in common as individuals. At a higher altitude location, they stay at a small house for a while to finalize the contract of acquiring a particular plot of land. Apart from them a few people were staying at the home: Michael (Pranay Narayan), their driver; Ben (Nima Norbu Lama), the cook; his wife, Aarati (Geeta Tamang) and their son. Biplab and Bhaskar frequently engage in squabbles and quarrels over petty issues, such as Biplab drinking every night, Bhaskar bringing pork meat without his consent, or Bhaskar's constant obsession with his phone whenever his phone has network reception (which Biplab concludes as the impatient instincts of a lover). Biplab is often irritated at Bhaskar's presence, sometimes without a clear reason. One night, the two men start conversing over a drink, and Bhaskar says he had a quarrel with his girlfriend over the phone. Biplab is shown in a new light, as he tries to show Bhaskar the reality of this age where it is too easy to stay connected with anyone and that affects relationships. The two men with different personalities gradually form a bonding to introspect their selves and soon start shedding layers. Bhaskar bonds with the local children as well, and Biplab realizes that his assistant is just like child, free-spirited and uninhibited. During the trip, they get to know about Michael as well, and Biplab jokingly suggests if he should set Bhaskar up with Michael's daughter, who is now an air-hostess.
The two men discuss their problems and challenges back at home, that they seem to have temporarily escaped from. Bhaskar reveals he is married and he lives with his wife, who he resolves to bring to his ancestral home, in North Kolkata. Biplab then tells Bhaskar about him and his wife, Jonaki (Ankita Majhi), who was once a skilled classical singer. He says they tried for children many times but failed. Due to one fateful miscarriage, Jonaki went into clinical depression, and never recovered. He talks of the solitude and burdens he carries, that he will never be able to tell anyone about, let alone Jonaki, and expresses his dejection at nobody being there for him, although he fulfils everything expected of him.
That night, Bhaskar suffers a fit, and later dies of cardiac arrest, despite Biplab and Michael's best efforts.
After returning from the trip, Biplab decides to stay at home for a while and look after Jonaki himself. His loneliness is reflected from his sightings of a couple who go for a walk at night, cleaning his books, discovering a book meant for the householder (a role he sees himself in now). Through ups and downs, Biplab and Jonaki start rekindling their bond, that was somehow fading. Biplab resumes work, still feeling a void. He learns from his boss, Nandini (Ekavali Khanna), that Bhaskar's wife was pregnant, and she had a baby daughter the day after he returned. Unable to make himself face Bhaskar's family members before, Biplab changes his mind and visits his house. He meets Bhaskar's wife, Binsa (Poonam Gurung), and their daughter, who was named Kajari, after Bhaskar's love for music. Biplab returns home, with a fresh perspective on his life. He asks his wife to sing him a kajari (an Indian classical music form), 'Barsan Lagi Badariya'. When she finishes, he proceeds to tell her a story, something he had refrained for long.
The film ends with the couple, who were seen walking the street at night. Only this time, their voices and conversation were clearly audible.
Cast
* Prosenjit Chatterjee as Biplab Sen
* Satyam Bhattacharya as Bhaskar
* Ankita Majhi as Jonaki
* Pranay Narayan as Michael
* Poonam Gurung as Binsa
* Nima Norbu Lama as Ben
* Ekavali Khanna as Nandini
Release
The film premiered in 'India story' section of Mumbai Film Festival 2019
The film was released through Zee5 on 28 June 2020.
Reception
The film received positive feedback and appreciation from other filmmakers. 'The Times of India' rated the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.
References
Buy The Prologue now from Amazon
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