Bishorjon (Immersion)

Movie Review (Bengali)

I am thankful that on a very short trip to Kolkata I was able to watch this movie. I can understand why it has received the National Award for the best Bengali movie this year.

Director and actor Kaushik Ganguly has captured the essence of the title Bishorjon, beginning the movie with the Bishorjon all Bengalis are familiar with – the immersion of the goddess Durga on Vijaya Dashami, the last day of the pujas. The celebration dissolves the borders between India and Bangladesh as W.Bengal and Bangladesh together immerse their idols in the Icchhamati river.

The story takes off from here and ends with the symbolic immersion of Padma, the widow, played by Joya Ahsan.

The movie has some poignant moments – the lonely widow inhaling the cigarette smoke exhaled by Nasir, the Indian, from behind the door, reminding her of her late husband; Padma coaching Nasir, (played by Abir Chatterjee), to be a Hindu Bangladeshi and, of course, the entire immersion ceremony. The music is worth mentioning.

Hats off to the director for coming across as an accomplished actor, in a comic role. He is Ganesh Mondal, the rich man in the village deeply in love with the widow.

Also the end was left to our interpretation. Do the Border Guards Bangladesh shoot Nasir down or allow him to leave for India? Did Ganesh Mondal bribe the guard to kill him or protect him? 

The Goddess came and went...

After four years, it was Durga Puja time in Delhi once again. Whatever I do, I just cannot ignore these five days of festivity and I think a owe a large part of it to meeting friends, listening to the drummers whip up the electric atmosphere, aroti of the goddess, pushpanjali with the mantras being chanted, the Bhog for three days, etc, etc.

Durga Puja

The five days have come and gone and as always, its the anticipation that was more exciting. Pandal hopping was a little low key, thanks to the jihadis. But the goddess never fails to enthuse me with the spirit of inner strength and optimism. Ten hands is what I require and maybe ten heads.
Got some pics of the puja which I will upload soon, so keep viewing!!!