Hrid Majharey

Theme

Math professor Abhijit and trainee Cardiologist Debjani's love story begins one rainy evening on a lonely Calcutta street. And it ends on yet another rainy evening in Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands. In between, lies a roller coaster journey dotted by love and jealousy, faith and delusion, destiny and free will.

The central theme is 'Character is Destiny'. What happens to us in our lives is determined by who we are. It talks about 'Self-fulfilling Prophecy' wherein a prophecy is made to a person and he, in the process of doing everything to prevent it from happening, actually goes about fulfilling it. The film is also about the unattainability of our most cherished dreams. All that we dream of in our lives, most often remain out of our reach.

Plot

The film begins with a shot in which a very dishevelled looking Abhijit (Abir Chatterjee) enters the room to find Debjani (Raima Sen) lying dead on the bed. The story goes back to a flashback and we get to see the reason behind such a fatal outcome. Abhijit is a professor of Mathematics at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He lives with his only sister Mallika who is a crime journalist by profession. A chance meeting with a soothsayer (Sohag Sen) who warns Abhijit to stay away from love for his own good is not given much importance by the professor. One rainy night he comes across a beautiful damsel in distress Debjani, stranded, as her taxi has broken down. He gives Debjani, a trainee heart surgeon, a lift in his car and Cupid strikes. They date and fall in love. Abhijit, however, faces a problem at his job when an infatuated student proposes him. He rejects and in retaliation she does something to get back at the professor. He is initially arrested, and then ostracized by one and all. Faced with such grave issues at work, he goes to the Andamans along with Debjani in search of a new life. There they meet Subhro (Indrasish Roy) who is Debjani's junior from their high school days. Subhro runs an NGO at Port Blair and composes music in his pastime. Subhro and Debjani spend time together rejuvenating their old friendship. At times, Abhijit gets jealous of Subhro’s unwavering attention on Debjani. Subhro dies in an accident and this leaves Abhijit in a confused state. He begins to question himself about the prophecy of the soothsayer. What actually happens next? Does Abhijit leave Debjani? And how does she die?

Cast

Scripting and pre-production

The first draft of the screenplay was written in 2008 and underwent numerous rewrites till it got a producer in 2012. This was an assignment in the Scriptwriting syllabus at Whistling Woods International Film Institute where Ghosh was a Screenwriting student from 2007–2009. It also marks a rare achievement for the institute.

Pre-production spanned over four months from October 2012 till January 2013. Recce was carried out extensively in Kolkata and twice in the Andaman Islands to scout for apt yet budget-friendly locations. Jet Airways partnered as the travel sponsor for the Andaman Islands recce and shoot.

Principal photography and post-production

The film was shot on the RED EPIC Camera by ace cinematographer Sirsha Ray who had shot Bollywood movies Home Delivery and Aladin and acclaimed Bengali films Clerk, Shabdo, Shesher Kabita and Apur Panchali, among others. The first day of the shoot was on 3 February 2013. The film was shot over a period of 23 days with 13 days shoot in Kolkata and the remaining 10 days in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Being the only other Bengali film (after Sabuj Dwiper Raja-1979) to be shot in the Archipelagos, Hrid Majharey also became the first ever Bengali film and one of the rare Indian films to have been shot inside the hallowed cells of the Cellular Jail in Port Blair. The crew also filmed at Ross Island, Havelock Islands, Chidia Tapu, Corbyn's Cove Beach, Munda Pahar Beach, Wandoor Beach, Aberdeen Bazaar, the Marine Jetty, and at a host of other private and Government owned locations.

The film was edited by Bodhaditya Banerjee who has blockbusters like Autograph (2010 film), Baishe Srabon, Hemlock Society, Chaplin, Shesh Boley Kichu Nei and Apur Panchali to his credit. Editing took a couple of months to be locked.

The music production was done by National Film Awards winning music director Mayookh Bhaumik. Hrid Majharey would be one of his rare works where he has scored both the background music and composed the songs.

Release and reception

The film released to wide critical appreciation but a very poor pre-release publicity campaign resulted in a lukewarm audience response in the opening weekend. Second week onward, buoyed by strong critical acclaim and a positive word-of-mouth publicity among the viewers, it picked up in its sales and went on to complete 5 weeks at the city theatres. Its unbroken 4-week stint at the prestigious West Bengal Film Centre – Nandan, is considered a rare achievement for any debut directorial venture.

The Times of India came up with a befitting tribute to the film stating "For a debutant, Ranjan ably bypasses the pitfalls to reinvent Shakespeare. The fallibility of his hero rings true. The unattainability of dreams permeates the air – his dream to write a book; his lady love's, to get a 'home', of the vagabond, dying to go back to his roots, all remain unfulfilled. The picturesque landscape of Andaman adds to the chiaroscuro of emotions. We're filled with a wistful longing for a different ending to true love. 'If only...' rings within our heart."

The Indian Express review read "Celebrating Shakespeare’s tragic heroes on the one hand and tackling with the persistent conflict between chance and reason is a daunting task. Ranjan Ghosh, who wrote the script for Aparna Sen’s Iti Mrinalini, took up the gauntlet. Hrid Majharey is a story of intrigue rooted in love and its loss. It needs to be commended because of the technical command of the director, his conviction and his honesty."

Hindustan Times had high praises for the film. "Abir's performance as a suspicious lover, who struggles to choose between love and ambition, is top notch. Raima looks beautiful in every frame and the climax where Abir and Raima struggle for love over destiny, is worth a watch. It is sure to bring back the memories of Othello once again. The realization in the end is again a shocker. The film does have its share of loopholes. But then again, Ghosh shows his promise as a debutant director.

Business Standard carried an exclusive article on the film, post-release. It quoted Barun Chanda, one of Satyajit Ray's favourites, in which the veteran actor told the Press Trust of India, "These days many works by directors are said to be inspired by great works of literature, mostly by Shakespeare and Tagore. I am not sure if all such works really have that connection with the original works. I don't want to comment on that, neither do I wish to name any film." Chanda, having done a small role in 'Hrid Majharey' said debutant director Ranjan Ghosh largely succeeded in bringing forth the inherent rage and passion which may come gradually in a romantic relationship and the allusions to the Bard will enthuse the audience to see a good movie."

Leading regional dailies like Ananda Bazaar Patrika, Ei Samay, Aajkaal and Sangbad Pratidin, among others, feted the film for its freshness quotient and novel concept. Lauded for its taut screenplay, brilliant visuals and overall execution, Hrid Majharey also drew appreciation for its background score and performances by the lead cast.

Film Blog sites on the Web also carried positive reviews for Hrid Majharey.

Cinema Forensic - "For the first time director Ranjan Ghosh, Hrid Majhare was the test of his life. To be a visionary and to execute the vision on screen are two very different jobs, which the Whistling Woods pass-out handles quite amazingly. The casting has been apt and looks appealing on screen. Abir and Raima complement each other beautifully. Abhijit and Debjani’s love flows on the undercurrent of a prophecy, examining their togetherness, questioning their endearments every now and then. The constant conflict between fate and logic which goes on in Abhijit’s mind is portrayed with a certain sense of calmness by director Ranjan Ghosh."

Rhododendron - "Director Ranjan Ghosh deserves truly a couple of appreciative praises for managing the Shakespearean ideas in such a captivating way. Regardless of bringing numerous a Shakespearean components in this film, the chief shows the affection story artistically. This mixing is the thing that gives the story an unique taste. What is additionally outstanding is the way that the component of Hamartia which is a remarkable part of the disastrous legends has likewise appeared. Hrid Majharey demonstrates that Love could be both delicate and rough. It can flourish your life and also push you to enough agonies that will take even a lifetime to recuperate. The film will clearly touch your heart and will guarantee that it stays in your heart for a long time."

TollyPlanetBangla - "Director Ranjan Ghosh (his first movie) is good. His first time effort pays off quite well. Mayookh Bhaumik's music is praise-worthy. The entire cast has performed well, especially Abir Chatterjee and Raima Sen. Indrasish makes you feel that his future as an actor is bright. On the whole Hrid Majharey is a must watch film. Don't miss this film for anything. It will surely touch your heart as it has touched ours."

Tollywood Dhamaka - "The film doesn’t focus on any particular aspect of a Shakespearean play, but deals with the essential elements that hold the key to any of his plays like Othello’s blind obsession and jealousy, Macbeth’s prophecy and suchlike. Abir Chatterjee playing the lead undoubtedly is the best who portrays each of these characteristics to the best of his abilities. Raima Sen is a just support to the character. The overall handling of the subject matter is good and so is the background music. This is the first time a Bengali film has been shot at Andaman after 34 years and so we get to see the place (including the Cellular Jail which is shown to us) which is an added point. Ranjan’s first time effort does pay off."

Sholoana Bangaliana - "Director Ranjan Ghosh deserves quite a few appreciative pats on the back for dealing with the Shakespearean concepts in such an engaging manner. Acting by the cast receives a big thumbs up and ably helps the director in this project. Sohag Sen as the soothsayer is just perfect. Raima as the cardiologist does justice to her role. Indrasish Ray as Shubhro also supports the acting department well. Abir Chatterjee as Abhijit is fantastic in the romantic scenes. The soft look and the dimpled smile will melt many a girl’s heart away and Debjani in the film falls for his charms. He must also be given credit for bringing out the troubled emotions in a man so well. The angst and the indecisiveness that he portrays with his eyes and expressions will actually touch your heart."

Bangla Mirror rates Hrid Majharey as a confident and a bold debut by the director. It praises the cinematography and music of the film while adding that the edit could have been tighter. It describes the film as a heart-warming love story having a very good background score, believable performances by the entire cast and a superb execution by Ghosh.

Legacy

In 2015, the very prestigious Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations Board had enlisted Hrid Majharey in 'Additional References - World/International Adaptations of Othello' for their 'A Level Drama and Theatre' course with the theme 'Heroes and Villains - Othello'. Prominent international movies in the exclusive list of nine were A Double Life (USA, 1947), All Night Long (UK, 1962), Catch My Soul (USA, 1974), O (USA, 2001), Omkara (India, 2006), among others.

Shakespearean experts consider Hrid Majharey as a major film from India that has deftly handled the Shakespearean themes, and have included the movie in their list of Top 10 film adaptations of Shakespeare's works, since 1949. In their own words, "Over the years, Indian cinema has taken his unforgettable characters and resurrected them, making sure that the Shakespearean dynasty multiplies by the dozen. The ten faces we’ve chosen are pukka Shakespeare-wallahs. They have the Bard’s blood flowing through their veins. Together, they just prove one thing – when anything from Stratford gets stratified in India, the result is always A-one." The list includes classics like Ganasundari Katha (1949), Angoor (1982), Kannaki (2001), and Maqbool (2003), among others.

The film was the focus in the 'Bengali Shakespeares' Chapter at an international conference titled 'Indian Shakespeares on Screen' jointly held by the British Film Institute and The University of London in April 2016 in London to mark 400 years of the Bard's demise. The abstract read, "Ranjan Ghosh’s critically acclaimed film was the first to have been publicized as being a tribute to Shakespeare for his 450th birth anniversary, beginning with an image of the bard before the opening credits, and incorporating stylistic elements, themes and narrative devices that make it both self-reflexive and in keeping with Shakespearean traditions. Ghosh’s cinematic treatment of Hrid Majharey through intertextual references and mise-en-scene, is refreshing and effective precisely because it is able to circumvent the colonial implications and gravitas of Bengal’s literary/cultural heritage – frameworks that are usually employed in a discussion of Shakespeare in Bengal – modifying and playing with Shakespeare’s characters/styles in order to make his own statement about what Shakespeare means to a contemporary audience."

The very prestigious Vidura magazine, published by Press Institute of India, featured Hrid Majharey in their October-December 2016 edition, three years after its theatrical release. Calling it "a beautifully made film, with some of the most outstandingly aesthetic cinematography seen in recent times", the magazine adds that "technically, Ranjan Ghosh’s Hrid Majharey is beautifully made with some of the most outstandingly aesthetic cinematography (Shirsa Ray) one has seen in recent times. The music (Mayookh Bhaumik) is melodious and deep, beautiful too, mood-centric in the background score and providing pleasant relief in the few song numbers. Kaushiki’s lilting voice enriches the song lip-synced by Raima. The sound track is creative, filled with bird-cries, footsteps sounding on the floors, and so on. The production design, covering the corridors of the college, the staffroom, the playground, Abhijit’s home with the sister and the artist boyfriend, the unsmiling old family retainer, the apartment in the Andaman Islands and the small trip to the cellular jail, is praiseworthy." Being recommended by a magazine solely for the journalists was a rare honour for the film.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack has music composed by Mayookh Bhaumik, with lyrics by Kaushik Ganguly and Prasenjit Mukherjee. The music was released on 1 July 2014.