Review of #Cinemawala

In last few decades the number of single screen movie theaters in West Bengal has reduced from 700 to 250. This is really alarming. In last 100 years movies has been one of the top most entertainments in our life then what caused the movie theaters to shutdown. Some people may blame it on the increasing number of multiplexes growing in big cities but how many big cities are there in West Bengal, very few. Then there must be other threats against the business of Movie theater owners who are called exhibitors in technical terms and in general we can call them #Cinemawala. This movie tries find the root cause of reducing number of footfalls in theaters, it tries to feel the pain of those #Cinemawalas who use to sell us entertainment, showing our larger than life imagination on big screen by running film reels in their projectors. They gave us entertainment throughout their life but what we are giving them in return; we are giving them empty theaters. Most of the cine-goers now don't go to those theaters as they prefer to bring that entertainment in cheap rates in form of pirated CD DVD and Internet downloads. Who cares if it's illegal, from police to politicians everyone is silent about this illegal activity happening in broad daylight. The only people who actually have to face tough times are those exhibitors, distributors and producers, who are not getting proper return of their investment and hard work. May be we don't care but movie making is a business and if we don't buy their products in form of paying tickets and keep encouraging piracy then ultimately we are cheating the people behind the business and helping some criminals who are taking illegal shortcuts to earn easy money.

Every cinema lover must be thankful to director Kaushik Ganguly for protesting this illegal

activity with his wonderful film. The film talks about #Cinemawalas from two generation with two different moral values .First one is Pranab (Paran Bandopadhyay) who was a movie theater owner once upon a time but now his cinema hall is not in running condition and other one is his son Prakash (Parambrata Chatterjee) , a pirated DVD seller. Throughout the movie Kaushik Ganguly has tried show the clash between these two different thinking people one who stands for honesty another one who believes to be practical no matter how unethical it is. The movie never tries to take side but still by the end you will know which side is right and which one is wrong. 

The story is unique like Kaushik Ganguly's other films. The screenplay is a bit slow in pace and has longer scenes, it revolves around very few characters as a result it looks monotonous sometimes. But the wonderful performances of the lead cast makes you glued to the screen. Towards the climax it takes an emotional twist which will surely shake you. The ending is thought provoking; one must be thoughtful about the future of the industry which kept giving us entertainment.

As a director Kaushik Ganguly is once again in top form. The way he has created his characters and their backdrop in small town of West Bengal, is amazing. The moments he has drawn on screen sometime says a lot even without a dialogue. Watch out the climax scene where a dead body procession is going on from one side of the road and a rikshaw is coming from the other side of the road doing publicity of a new release. There is no dialogue but the scene clearly says how those small time pirated video halls are killing movie theaters.

Among the actors Paran Bandopadhyay is extra ordinary. He hardly gets chance to showcase his potential. This movie is one o those few films where we get to see Paran Bandopadhyay's excellence as an actor. He has bring life to his character of an old, drunk, frustrated man who is bearing the pain of being unsuccessful in personal life as well as professional life. He is too good in the drunken scenes and in the climax he has emoted quite well even without any dialogue.
Parambrata Chatterjee is good as an aspiring DVD seller who wants to prove his father that he too can do something on his own. He looks natural as a small town businessman with his

body language and mannerisms. His scenes with his on screen father is good where his body language shows, no matter if the son dislikes his father but still there is an awe towards him.
Arun Guhathakurta is good as Pranab’s aid Hari who was the projectionist once in the theatre. He has performed his part very well and has given able support to Paran Bandopadhyay. In his last scene when he displays his affection for the projector, he is too good in that scene. In that one scene he has summed up all the pain of the technicians working in cinema halls who are jobless now because of shutdown of cinema halls.
Sohini Sarkar has been cast very well in the character of a small town housewife struggling between the fights of his husband and father in law. The character has lesser screen time but with her easy charm and natural acting Sohini has made her character remarkable. Through her expressions she has highlighted the dilemma of her character because of the ongoing fight between the two important men in her life where she cannot take side to any of them.
Lama is good as Parambrata’s friend cum business partner who has a stammering problem. He has left impression in his brief appearance.

The technical team has done a wonderful job in recreating the small town atmosphere. Production design is very natural specially the setting of the old cinema hall. Cinematographer Soumik Halder has captured the cinematic moments very well.

#Cinemawala is a tribute to all those people behind this entertainment industry who are losing their money because of the indifference of the audience. If you feel movies is the biggest source of entertainment in your life then please watch it and all other movies in theaters or legal home videos. Don’t encourage film piracy. It’s time to pay back to our beloved #Cinemawalas who has always given us entertainment in form of cinema on big screen.