biographical film
A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...
directed by
Arindam Sil
Arindam Sil is an Indian actor, film director and line producer.
Early life
Sil was born on 12 March 1964 in North Calcutta to a traditional joint family. He was a student of St. Joseph's College, Calcutta, and St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, ...
. The film is produced by
Firdausul Hasan
Firdausul Hasan is a film producer from Kolkata. His production house Friends Communication won best feature film in Bengali in the 65th National Awards for his film Mayurakshi. He was the former president of Film Federation of India from 2019 ...
and Probal Halder under the banner of Friends Communication. The film is based on the life and works of the eminent writer and socio-political activist
Mahasweta Devi
Mahasweta Devi (14 January 1926 – 28 July 2016) ''
. The titular role is essayed by
Gargi Roychowdhury
Gargee Roychowdhury is an Indian actress. She works in Bengali movies in Tollywood and serials in television. Gargi Roychowdhury is one of the popular actresses of the Bengali screen. She began her career as a theatre artist, performing in Utta ...
.
Plot
Mohal Basu, an enthusiastic college student, wants to pursue her PhD research on the writer and socio-political activist Mahananda Bhattacharya. For that, she goes to Mahananda herself and a series of events occurs in their life which changes Mohal mentally.
Cast
*
Gargi Roychowdhury
Gargee Roychowdhury is an Indian actress. She works in Bengali movies in Tollywood and serials in television. Gargi Roychowdhury is one of the popular actresses of the Bengali screen. She began her career as a theatre artist, performing in Utta ...
as Mahananda Bhattacharya, an eminent writer and socio-political activist
*
Debshankar Haldar
Debshankar HaldarSpelling according tTelegraph Calcutta (or Debshankar HalderSpelling according t or Debsankar HalderThis spelling has been used in Nandikar'website.) is a Bengali theatre actor with a long career in Bengali theatre groups such a ...
as Bidhan Bhattacharya, husband of Mahananda Bhattacharya
*
Ishaa Saha
Ishaa Saha is an Indian actress who mainly works in Bengali cinema. She started her career with Bengali television. She made her film debut in Bengali cinema in 2017 as a lead with ''Projapoti Biskut'' directed by Anindya Chatterjee. She acted i ...
as Mohal Basu, a PhD scholar
* Arno Mukhopadhyay as Bihan, Mohal's boyfriend
Soundtrack
All the songs are composed by Bickram Ghosh and the lyrics are penned by Subhendu Dasmunshi.
Release
The film was theatrically released on 8 April 2022.
Reception
''Mahananda'' has received mixed reviews, with critics praising its narrative structure and performances but criticizing the characterization of its protagonist. Sandipta Bhanja of ''
The Indian Express
''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...
'' wrote "The heart of this film is the music of Bickram Ghosh. Which gave another dimension to 'Mahananda'. Be it the use of Santali instruments in the background music or the song 'Rong Dhorese' sung by Sahana Bajpai. 'Mahananda' once again proved that Arindam-Bickram duo has undoubtedly set another milestone in Bengali cinema music. How did the indomitable struggle of a woman, the force of her mental strength put the ruling party in confusion? If you want to know then you can watch 'Mahananda' in theatres". Ranabir Bhattacharyya of ''
Hindustan Times
''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media, an entity controlled by the KK Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia.
It was founded by Sunder Singh Lyall ...
'' wrote "The early events of Mahananda's life are especially marked on the screen. Bijan Bhattacharya's conversation with Mahasweta Devi seems to be caught effortlessly in moments of humility like those of Mahananda and Bidhan Bhattacharya. In Arno Mukhopadhyay, Ishaa Saha also catches the eye with their easy chemistry. Bickram Ghosh's music scheme has given a worthy accompaniment. And of course Sahana Bajpaie's songs should not be missed!Sabarni Das' costume design is the asset of this movie".