Unishe April

Cast

Plot

Sarojini (Aparna Sen) is a well-known danseuse, whose immense dedication to her art permeates every aspect of her life. While honor and acclaim make way into her professional life she is less successful on the domestic front. Her growing popularity leads to her husband Manish's (Boddhiswatta Majumdar) gradual resentment towards her and ultimately a rift between the couple. Manish takes over the upbringing of their only daughter, Aditi, as Sarojini remains busy with her artistic commitments. Sarojini seems to find a replacement for the void in her marital life through dancing, however she is unsure if her blossoming career and success is really bringing her happiness. The sudden demise of Manish forces Sarojini to put her daughter in a hostel. The glittering memory of her father and her mother's inability to give her proper time results in Aditi's bitterness towards her mother.

The film begins with Aditi's (Debashree Roy) returning home. She is now all grown up and on the verge of starting her career as a doctor, like her father. The atmosphere is thick with the sharp tension between mother and daughter. Shortly after Aditi's return Sarojini is honored with a prestigious award. It is 19 April, Aditi's father's death anniversary, which her mother appears to have forgotten. Misunderstanding and temperamental conflicts creates an air of suffocation for both.

Aditi's prospective husband, Prosenjit Chatterjee dumps her after his family learns of her mother's profession soon after the public announcement of Sarojini's award. Heartbroken, Aditi decides to attempt suicide, which her mother finds out leading mother and daughter into a heart-to-heart conversation. Gradually they unlock two decades of rage and rancor, pain and bitterness to each other. Untold facts finally get deciphered, misunderstandings clear out. All hint to the final question: "Will Aditi ultimately be able to forgive her mother?"

Direction

Rituparno depicts the embittered relationship between mother and daughter with utmost care. The daughter's indifference to her mother's activities, friends and students are woven in with naturalistic dialogues. Scenes depicting Sarojini's celebration of her success on her husband's death anniversary, Aditi's refusal to take part in the celebrations, her lack of knowledge of her mother's intimate, everyday details (including a recurring knee pain) help the audience gain an understanding of their relationship. Ghosh's realistic cinematic style explore psychological realms of the two women through smartly composed dialogues and controlled acting. Movement through time is depicted through smooth transitions between the past and the present, which effectively reflect the character's state of mind. Debashree Roy and Aparna Sen both shine in their respective roles.

Awards

The film has won the following awards:

1995 National Film Awards (India)