Srijit Mukherjee’s ‘Padatik’ is all set to release on the 15th of August. The Mrinal Sen biopic got its trailer released yesterday and it got much appreciation from fans and critics.
But will ‘Padatik’ be able to be more than a ‘go-as-you-like’ movie? Only time will tell. There has been a trend of making biopics of Bengali film personalities in recent times. Uttam Kumar is the most churned celebrity. Satyajit Ray has been played by more than three actors and Ritwik Ghatak too had quite a popular biopic. Now, after Mrinal Sen’s centenary, it is his turn. After two tribute films, the biopic is coming now. Chanchal Choudhury is looking convincing as Mrinal Sen but Srijit’s recent filmography puts a very obvious doubt. Will he be able to translate Mrinal Sen’s philosophy in the film!
Saswata Chatterjee played Uttam Kumar and Ritwik Ghatak in two separate films and looks nowhere like any of them. But the movies were appreciated by fans and critics as they were sincere about the characters. The Ritwik Ghatak biopic communicated the angst and frustration of the artist in a wonderful way and it did not matter if Saswata did not look like him.
Srijit Mukherjee has somehow lost the position of a trusted director and his recent projects have failed to impress audiences. The trailer of ‘Padatik’ seems to have visible inspirations from various contemporary and classic films. It would be great for the industry if the film actually turns out to be as fans have expected and it turns the trend of the caricaturish biopics to a much more philosophical mode of filmmaking.