Based on Buddhadeb Guha's novel, the romantic drama film Babli, starring Subhashree Ganguly, Abir Chatterjee, Sauraseni Maitra, Kaushik Sen, and Reshmi Sen, was released in theatres on 15th August 2024, alongside Srijit Mukherji’s Padatik.
The story revolves around a girl named Damayanti, also known
as Babli (Subhashree Ganguly), who is about to start a new job in Delhi.
However, an Indian Airlines strike causes concern for her uncle and aunt. They
call on Abhi (Abir Chatterjee), who works for Babli's uncle, to help by taking
Babli with him to Dimapur.
This adventurous journey brings them closer, and the film
gradually unveils how their relationship evolves over time. The film also
explores how the presence of Babli's childhood friend, Jhuma (Sauraseni
Maitra), affects her relationship with Abhi.
The highlight of Babli is the enjoyable on-screen chemistry
between Abir Chatterjee and Subhashree Ganguly. From the moment they meet until
the climax, it's hard to believe this is their first collaboration. Both actors
deliver convincing performances, providing several memorable moments throughout
the film.
Following Alaap and Babli, it's evident that Abir Chatterjee
is leaning more towards romantic films lately. This shift undoubtedly heightens
the excitement for his upcoming Durga Puja release, Bohurupi.
On the other hand, Subhashree Ganguly, who initially
appeared mostly in romantic films, has been taking on more experimental roles
in projects like Indubala Bhaater Hotel, Doctor Bakshi, Dharmajuddha, Boudi
Canteen, and Bismillah. There’s significant anticipation for her upcoming film,
Santan.
Indraadip Dasgupta's music composition is another major
highlight of this film, while Manas Ganguly's cinematography is top-notch.
Unfortunately, the editing by Sanglap Bhowmik is disappointing; the film could
have easily been trimmed by another 15-20 minutes. The emotional scenes also
did work at all.
The main issue with Babli lies in the screenplay and
character development. While the first half is engaging, the pace drops
significantly in the second half. Babli's inner conflict with Jhuma should have
been better established, but director Raj Chakraborty fails to delve into it.
Additionally, the three lead characters are poorly written, with Sauraseni
Maitra's character particularly underutilized.
If you've already read the novel, you might find the film
somewhat disappointing. However, if you haven't read the book, you're likely to
enjoy the film overall.
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