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FILM REVIEW: Jhilli

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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