A raw and masterful directorial debut Rating: 4/5 Cast: Aranya Gupta, Bitan Biswas, Sombhunath De, Sayandeep Guha, Sourav Nayak Direct...
A raw and masterful directorial debut
Rating: 4/5
Cast: Aranya Gupta, Bitan Biswas,
Sombhunath De, Sayandeep Guha, Sourav Nayak
Directed by Ishaan Ghose, Jhilli is a film
not for the faint-hearted. This doesn’t mean that the film features any violent
scenes. It is a disturbing film from the first frame itself.
Bokul, a fourth-generation manual labour worker,
works in a bone-crushing factory in the middle of Kolkata’s largest dump yard.
He is oblivious to his struggles and makes the best of his life in his world.
Unknown to him, the world outside is rapidly changing and making space for a
new economic boom. His world is being traded for a recreational park.
The scene that strikes the most is one in
the beginning in which Bokul is talking to two dogs and says, “Don’t be like
Bokul. Don’t be a dumbass.”. The emotional power this scene has is unmatchable,
at least in contemporary mainstream Indian cinema. And this was just the
beginning of an experience that will change anyone’s perception of life as a
whole.
Shot like a Terrence Malick film, Jhilli is
dark and bleak with nihilistic dialogues spoken throughout which stay in the
viewer’s head even after the film is over. The sound design is impeccable and
makes the viewer feel like a part of the story instead of just being an observer.
The performances are realistic and
haunting, with Aranya Gupta as Bokul being the highlight, which is sure to go
down as one of the best performances in Bengali cinema.
Some may find it boring while others will
find it engaging, but Jhilli is worth a watch.
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