Surjo (2024) Bengali Movie Review: Vikram Chatterjee’s Performance & Loy-Deep’s Music Composition Are Praiseworthy

Shieladitya Moulik's directorial romantic drama Surjo, starring Vikram Chatterjee, Madhumita Sarcar, and Darshana Banik, was released in theaters on July 19, 2024. The film is an official adaptation of the romantic drama Charlie, originally directed by Martin Prakkat and starring Dulquer Salmaan, Parvathy, and Aparna Gopinath.

The story revolves around Uma (Madhumita Sarcar), a photographer who resigns from her job to explore the world and pursue her passion for photography. Upon returning home, she finds her friend Abhik (Atmadeep Ghosh) visiting with her parents to propose marriage.

Uma convinces Abhik and leaves home to follow her dreams. She travels to Chandrapur to stay with a friend, but after finding the situation there unsuitable, she moves into a rented home with the help of a local landlord, Pilu (Prasun Gain).

The room she rents previously belonged to an artist named Surjo (Vikram Chatterjee). Uma discovers a graphic book in the room, and the illustrations captivate her, sparking her curiosity about the characters and Surjo. Will Uma be able to find Surjo?

Vikram Chatterjee’s performance is a major highlight of Surjo. The character of Surjo requires a charming young man whose expressions, body language, and mannerisms naturally endear him to others, and Vikram Chatterjee successfully embodies these traits.

Over the past couple of years, Vikram has consistently delivered outstanding performances, as seen in his last three releases: Shesh Pata, Shohoer Ushnotomo Dine, and Pariah Vol 1. His efforts to establish himself as a future superstar in the industry are commendable.

Darshana Banik, as Diya, delivers a convincing performance, with her on-screen chemistry with Vikram Chatterjee being particularly praiseworthy. The conversations between their characters are enjoyable, and their chemistry feels natural.

Madhumita Sarcar’s portrayal of Uma is decent, though there is room for improvement, particularly in emotional scenes. Additionally, the on-screen chemistry between Madhumita and Vikram does not feel as organic as that between Vikram and Darshana. Moumita Pandit as Meera, Prasun Gain as Pilu, and Atmadeep Ghosh, as Abhik, provide decent contributions to the film.

Loy-Deep’s music composition is commendable, with tracks like "Megh Muluker Jhil" and "Kemon Achish Bol" standing out. Ayan Sil’s cinematography beautifully captures some stunning shots of Arunachal Pradesh.

Director Shieladitya Moulik’s execution is decent, although expectations were high. The adapted screenplay, with some changes, weakens the emotional scenes. Uma’s character, portrayed by Madhumita Sarcar, did not receive enough focus, making her character somewhat underdeveloped.

If you've already watched Charlie, you can still enjoy Surjo. However, be aware that comparing it to the original might lead to some disappointment. If you haven't seen Charlie, then Surjo is a feel-good film worth watching mainly for Vikram Chatterjee’s brilliant performance, Ayan Sil’s stunning cinematography, and Loy-Deep’s excellent music composition.