Review : Bengali Night

[amazon_link id=”B0026B6WVW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Rating : Below average (2.7/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 1988
Running time : 2 hours
Director : Nicolas Klotz
Cast : High Grant, Supriya Pathak, Shabana Azmi, Soumitra Chatterjee, John Hurt

THE BENGALI NIGHT : A CHORE TO WATCH

The distinctions between good cinema and bad cinema have never been very clear to me. It’s all very subjective, right ? My cinematic trash might be your Dhoom2, and vice versa. So of course, when I chance upon little know titles, I presume them little known gems and proceed to spend three-ish hours watching a film which is neither engaging nor moving at a fast enough clip.

On further crunching of the filmi grey cells, one decides that there should ideally be 3 categories : good, bad and no-need-to-watch . This film “the Bengali Night” definitely comes in the third category. It’s not a good film – I heartily de-recommend it. If there was a higher message (Amazon reviewers thought so), it slipped by me totally. The only thing this film has going for it (besides of course the amazing Shabana Azmi) , is Hugh Grant or so I thought until I saw the film. Grant in this film is so very young – remember this came out in 1988 – he’s about 20 years older now, and I must say he looks much better now.

Circa 1988, Supriya Pathak was a thin waif. Well, OK you still can’t call her a waif – I mean if I inhaled really deep and blew out with full force she isn’t getting blown away, now or any time previously. Thin, yes, waif, no. And with a booming laugh that must be heard in the nether worlds, waif somehow just doesn’t fit. These days, you can watch Pathak, who’s tripled in size, as Gujrati housewife Hansa Parekh in comedy serials like “Instant Kichdi”. I wonder how that must feel – going from a Bazaar to a Khichdi ? But who’s to say ? Paapi pet ka sawaal and all that. Shabana Azmi then still looked young. Azmi has now almost retired from films (save the occasional “Honeymoon travels”)

The film is based on the book “La nuit Bengali” by sociologist Mircea Eliade, and is apparently based upon a true story. Allan (Grant) is an engineer, working under Mr. Sen (Soumitra Chatterjee). When Allan falls sick, Sen graciously invites him into his home to recuperate, and asks him to stay on even after, if he so wishes. Allan, who does, keeps to himself, until the elder daughter of the household Gayatri (Pathak) draws him out. They fall in love, but when this is known by the elder Sens, the repercussions are not pleasant for the lovers . . .

Now the story seemed a little off to me; thus did not feel Allan’s angst. Why would the Sens encourage Allan, a young man, to stay unless they had other motives ? It was made clear in the film that they had no such designs; thought him a son, a brother for Gayatri etc. and the whole premise seems a little shaky. As far as acting goes, Azmi, as Gayatri’s mom Indira Sen, is her usual magnificent self. Pathak appears naive enough, and worried enough, as an unmarried, young, “good” Bengali girl would be. Grant is not as polished as he is now, although one can see he’s trying. Soumitra Chatterjee as Mr.Sen is very new “English” with his “Allan, my boy”. Utpal Dutt had a fleeting role as the postman at the Sen’s residence.

The film is sort of choppy, editing a bit sparse. The film doesn’t flow. And the DVD’s sound quality wasn’t very good – background sounds at times louder than the dialogues. Parts of the film, such as those of Allan with his friends in their little apartment, seemed surreal. This film left me unmoved. I can’t actually call it ghastly, because I really don’t feel enough about it to decide. But you get my drift.