Recently something rather cool happened to me – I was invited for the preview of a film. Feeling rather self-important and well connected at first, my excitement went for a toss the minute I realized it’s in Bengali. Ah well, I guess I’ll just go and mingle and eat popcorn – I thought to myself. An expert at watching (and sitting through) any type of Bollywood movie, I knew I could sit through it for sure. Paying attention though? Umm, that’s asking for too much. Or so I thought.
SPOILER ALERT: I sat through it immersed in every scene, wide eyed at every twist, awed at every dialogue, lost in every emotion. Who knew the ‘edge of your seat’ wasn’t just a phrase but an actual place to rest your ass?
Yup, I watched Shaheb Bibi Golaam written and directed by Pratim D. Gupta and here’s why you need to as well:
1. It’s brilliant fucking cinema. There I said it. No need to read further. Okay chalo, I’ve written so much so please read ahead. But that’s honestly the long and short of it.
2. It’s the best initiation possible if (like me) you’ve never watched a regional film.
3.You wouldn’t ever believe it’s the director’s first movie.
4.The actors are so convincing, you’d think that’s just how they are in real life. I’m serious – some were at the premiere and I didn’t think I should talk to them because I was a little intimidated.
5.The subtitles and the fact that a lot of English is used in the film make it really easy to follow.
6.You should support good art, and not just when it’s backed by some big Bollywood banner. (This one is a note to self because God knows how many crappy movies I’ve endured just because they were backed by the Bollywood bigwigs)
7.I felt every emotion possible during the span of the film – and for a change it wasn’t thanks to PMS.
8.Little bit of a spoiler here: it’ll make the feminist in you very, very happy.
9.Although it’s technically a thriller – it’s the kind of film that knows how to keep pace. At times you are taking in a scene – slowly and beautifully while at others your heart is beating super fast.
10.Such cinema doesn’t just happen – it’s our duty to support and encourage it and promote a genuine effort which this happens to be. I wouldn’t review it if it didn’t genuinely strike a chord. Apparently cinema, like love, isn’t bound by the barriers of language. 🙂
(Shaheb Bibi Golaam releases this Friday (2nd September) in all the Metros)