If you like anthology films, here is a nice recommendation for you. The Bengali movie ‘Chaar’ directed by Sandip Ray is a movie that will put a smile to your face. The movie is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Chaar’ came out in 2014 and tells four stories written by the stalwarts of Bengali literature: Satyajit Ray, Saradindu Bandyopadhyay and Parashuram. The cast includes actors like Saswata Chatterjee, Abir Chatterjee, Koel Mallick, Paran Bandopadhyay, Sreelekha Mitra, Sudipta Chakraborty and Pijush Ganguly.
‘Bateshwarer Abodan’, the short story written by Parasuram is about an aged novelist who is planning to kill off Aloka, a famous character written by him in a serialized novel. He is interrupted by fans who do not want the character to be killed.
‘Dui Bondhu’ by Satyajit Ray is a story of two friends who are estranged in childhood but promise to meet each other again after twenty five years. ‘Kaktarua’, another story by Ray, is a horror short. It is about a famous singer who goes out to the countryside one day and his car breaks down. While he waits for his driver to bring necessary equipment, a scarecrow in the distance starts forming into a human being.
The final story is ‘Porikkha’ by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. It is a lighthearted romance shot in black and white that tells the story of a young man who is a government engineer and how he gets tested by the woman he wants to marry.
Sandip Ray’s simple romances are a treat to the eyes and ears. And if you feel fed up with the extravagant and gorgeous show-business of contemporary cinema, enjoy a light weekend with the simple and delightful ‘Chaar’. It is available to watch on Prime Video.