Review of Bengali Film "Shesher Kobita"

"Shesher Kobita" is an adaptation of the very famous Bengali novel by same name written by Rabindranath Tagore. It is a huge task to tell a novel in just 2 hrs movie , it is tough to decide how to cut some unwanted elements or shorten them in cinematic language. Director Suman Mukhopadhyay have tried well to portray this story like poetry in motion on screen.

The story starts with Amit Ray (Rahul Bose) and Ketaki (Swastika Mukherjee) who are in

love and decides live life together. But  after  a certain period Amit realizes he is longing for something else in life. He decides to go for a trip to Shilong alone leaving his known circle of friends and family members in Kolkata. In Shilong he meets an young  independent educated lady Labanya (Konkona Sensharma). Soon they became friends and start feeling love for each other. Though Labanya is too ambitious in life to get married but she too agrees to marry Amit after a point. But Labanya had a past too, she had a silent admirer, at her younger age, Shovanlal(Debdut Ghosh). What happens when both Amit and Labanya's past come back in their life. Does their love survives or not that is the end of the story.

Those who have already read the story their is nothing new for them. In such a case the screenplay matters more but unfortunately the screenplay, especially in the first half is

too slow. The screenplay picks up in the second half only. the first half is too much poetic and is less appealing towards the current day generation. The climax is too hurried , it could have taken little more time to justify the decisions taken by the two lead.

As a director Suman Mukhopadhyay has done a fair job. Specially the recreation of pre-independent India is picture perfect.

Rahul Bose is good as Amit Ray and helps to make the character intellectual but the immaturity is missing in his face and body language which is required for Amit Ray in the first half. Rahul Bose is definitely not the best choice for the character.

Konkona Sensharma has portrayed the complex character of Labanya perfectly. She gives life to Labanya. Her expressions are just perfect for the character.

In a short role Swastika Mukherjee has done a good job as Ketaki. Watch out her in the  scene when she sees Amit and labanya together for the first time , the way she tries to control her tears is too good.

Among the others Debdut Ghosh and Tulika Basu are good.

The technical team has done a fine job to recreate the period. Special mention for the costumes designed by Dev r Nil, the research work can be seen in the detailing. Same can be said about the set design. Shirhsa ray has shot the film very nicely , the mountains and the waterfalls of Shilong provides an eye shoothing experience.

Some Rabindra sangeet has been used here and there but does not add much value.

Overall it is a poetic representation of the story of platonic love, with some good acting and authentic representation of pre-independent period. If you love to see your favorite characters alive on screen then go for it. Otherwise you can avoid it for a home watch.