Projapoti Film Review
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Projapoti Film Review
In 2022, Bengali cinema saw an emergence of better scripts and greener pastures for family sagas. Themes like alternative parenthood, urban co-living arrangements, and non-traditional careers found representation, while female-led stories were given better treatment. Tollywood's efforts to tell nuanced and improved narratives were acknowledged, especially during a challenging year for Bollywood, particularly in the realm of OTT platforms. Avijit Sinha's Projapoti, though not a conventional family tale, focuses on an intimate story—a formula that has proven successful for acclaimed theatrical releases in Tollywood, such as Boudir Canteen or Shrimati.
Currently, narratives revolving around mid-life or golden-age themes have garnered more attention than ever before, as seen in the works of Hollywood's prestigious filmmakers and even in Sooraj Barjatya's sleeper hit, Uunchai. Avijit Sinha, who previously directed Tonic, seems to be aware of this trend. He leans towards gentle-hearted stories that delve into complex sentimental problems, often without straightforward solutions. In Projapoti, Mithun Chakraborty portrays Gaur, an aging widower who desires his son Joy (Dev) to get married, believing that a larger family could alleviate his loneliness. However, Joy, a busy wedding planner, doesn't seem to have any plans for marriage. While the premise may not be groundbreaking, the movie starts off strongly.
The passage suggests that Projapoti holds promise with its initial strong setup, focusing on the dynamics between Gaur and Joy and their individual desires and challenges. It touches on themes of loneliness, family, and the complexities of relationships, delving into relatable and sentimental issues.
The casting in this movie is praised as one of its strongest aspects. Mithun Chakraborty delivers an innately watchable performance, portraying an aging father with relatable insecurities shared by many single, older parents. Known for his effortless acting, Mithun can captivate audiences with larger-than-life roles like Fatakeshto, but also deliver impactful emotional moments. If the film manages to attract repeat audiences, Mithun would likely deserve much of the credit for his performance. The chemistry between Dev and Mithun is also impressively crafted to resonate with contemporary viewers.
Dev has shown his ability to hold his own when paired with seasoned actors like Mithun in Projapoti or Prosenjit Chatterjee in Kacher Manush. His performance is deemed believable, but there is room for a more astute character design to elevate his portrayal. Similarly, some of the secondary characters, particularly those portrayed by Koneenica Banerjee and Ambarish Bhattacharya, suffer from sloppy character arcs, becoming victims of inconsistent development.
Unfortunately, the second half of the film falls short of playing to the strengths of the first half and lacks the engaging elements that made the initial portion of the movie so compelling. This imbalance in the narrative affects the overall impact of the film.
In summary, while the casting, especially the performances of Mithun Chakraborty and Dev, shines in the movie, there are areas for improvement in terms of character development and the handling of secondary characters. The second half's departure from the engaging nature of the first half is a missed opportunity for the film to capitalize on its strengths.
Kharaj Mukherjee's comedic talent proves to be a valuable asset to the film, adding humor to the storytelling. Mamata Shankar is well-cast and delivers a strong performance. However, Sweta Bhattacharya's role could have benefited from a different direction. Her chemistry with Dev is lacking, and it's possible that the character needed a different energy or a different actor to establish a stronger connection.
The film's runtime could have been shorter, and the screenplay could have been crisper to maintain a more engaging pace. However, the last half-hour of the film delivers an emotional payoff, going big in terms of the storytelling. Rathijit's music holds up well and enhances the overall narrative. As a holiday release, Projapoti offers a lot in terms of its cast, story, and family-friendly viewing experience. Audiences, especially Mithun fans, would not be disappointed if they choose to watch this film in theaters.
The passage suggests that Projapoti brings a variety of elements to the table, including a talented cast, an engaging story, and an experience suitable for families. While there are areas for improvement, the film has the potential to captivate viewers, especially those who have an appreciation for Mithun's work.
Overall, Projapoti is lauded for its ability to blend comedy and heartfelt moments, effectively portraying the complexities of family relationships. It is seen as a positive example of Tollywood's commitment to delivering nuanced storytelling and exploring diverse themes in Bengali cinema.