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Film Review: Jaatishwar (2014) by Srijit Mukherji

made the film “Jaatishwaar” (A Musical of Memories) to pay tribute to a cult song with the same name by Kabir Suman, one of the greatest songsmiths of modern Bengal. The story of “” revolves around Hensman Anthony, a 19th century Bengali Kabiyal  poet and singer of Portuguese origin, who is reincarnated as Kushal Hazra in modern day Bengal. The narration spreads over two centuries and depicts the evolution of Bengali modern music through the ages of Kirtan, Tappa, Bhatiali and other types of folk music, with an underlying love story. The film contains some brilliant performances from all the actors and some outstanding melodies by the maestro Kabir Suman. In 2014, the film was recognized with the maximum number (four) of awards in the National Film Awards of India.

Rohit Mehta is a Gujrati boy from Kolkata who falls in love with Bengali girl Maya, who is an avid believer of the superiority of the Bengali culture over others and declines Rohit's offer of friendship. In his strive to bring back Maya in his life, Rohit starts learning Bengali language and discovers the history of Hensman Anthony, who was born Portuguese but later became one of the best poet and singer (Kabiyal) of nineteenth century Bengal. While exploring the past of Hensman Anthony, who was also known as Anthony Firingee , Rohit meets Kushal Hazra, a person lost in the middle of a glorious past and ever changing present, and confused in the quest of his real identity. Kushal says he was Anthony Firingee and reincarnated again and is currently striving to reach his lost love, Soudamini. And the narration flows through the two hundred years of history of Bengal, keeping the story of Kushal, Rohit and Maya on one side and the amazing journey of Hensman Anthony on the other.

“Jaatishwar” is an aesthetically crafted movie with some terrific performances by the lead actors. has a double role and is absolutely brilliant as Kushal Hazra. His mannerism, style of dialog delivery and the expression of the shades of emptiness throughout the movie has been outstanding. as Rohit and as Maya both give passionate performances. And Mamata Shankar in a cameo is absolutely magnetic.

“Jaatishwar” is a visual treat and credit goes to Soumik Haldar for the excellent cinematography. The use of spider cam has brought in the realistic effect in many scenes. The movie has many different shades and the slick editing of Bodhaditya Banerjee has helped in pacing it beautifully. As the story spreads over a period of two hundred years, the costumes had to be according to the spirits of the age. Shaborni Das lived up to the expectation and did a great job as costume designer and so did Vikram Gaikwad as makeup artist.

“Jaatishwar” is a musical and music carries the eternal flow of the movie. The music of “Jaatishwar” brings the aura and essence of the Kavigaan of Bengal brilliantly through the superlative compositions of Kabir Suman. Lyrics of the songs (Kavigaans) are kept unchanged, in the form created two hundred years back. But the music of Suman, touching the aura of Tappa, Kirtan, Tarja etc, brought the essence of freshness in it. The use of khol, khartal, khanjani and clapping of hands has made the songs simpler and closer to masses and soil. “Ki Rongo Tui “, “Je Shokti Hote”, “Preme Khanto Holem Pran” are few of the brilliant Kabiyaal songs in the movie. Srikanto Acharya has rendered all songs of Anthony Firingee, and the haunting melody of “Joy Jogendra Jaya” brings goosebumps. The music director exploited the voice of Sromona Chakraborty in a masterly way and brought out the rawness and sensuality which were exactly needed for “Hole Jodi Hole Sakha Odhishthan”. The film begins with “Pratham Aloe Fera” , another brilliant composition of Kabir Suman, written and sung by the music director himself. The emptiness and loss echoed in “E Tumi Kemon Tumi” sung by Rupankar Bagchi, has made it a cult and became one of the greatest hits in the history of Bengali film music. Unfortunately, it has overshadowed the majority of kavigaans.

“Jaatishwar” is nothing but Srijit Mukherjee's tribute to the Prophet –Kabir Suman who inspired a generation with his music mixed with his love towards Bengali language. One needs to be a pure lover of mother tongue to get the eternal feeling of “Jaatishwar”, to understand the pain of “Kushal Hazra”, who is confused in the midst of a dominating glorious past (in Heynesman Antony) and ever-changing present, and reincarnated and striving to reach his eternal love, or Rohit's “Maya”- the illusion! 

As a movie, “Jaatishwar” surely has its flaws. But the brilliant compositions of Kabir Suman, which depict the 200 years of history of Bengali music in an amazing style, the superlative presence of Prosenjit Chatterjee flowing down the end, and the passion of a director who is busy creating his “love” in a masterly way – never allow us to think of any “gaps” in the film.  “Jaatishwar” is nothing less than the eternal love song “Jaatishwar” of Kabir Suman , that inspired the director to make this film. And like the inspiration, the movie can be watched until we “love” the passion of every creation in it, and that's exactly where Srijit Mukherji nails us. Kudos to the entire team for such a passionate creation.

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