Baishe Srabon

Baishe Srabon
Film poster
Directed by	Srijit Mukherji
Produced by	Shree Venkatesh Films
Written by	Srijit Mukherji
Starring	Prosenjit Chatterjee Parambrata Chatterjee Raima Sen Abir Chatterjee Gautam Ghosh
Music by	Anupam Roy
Cinematography	Soumik Haldar
Edited by	Bodhaditya Banerjee
Release dates	30 September 2011 (2011-09-30)
Running time	140 minutes
Country	India
Language	Bengali
Budget	1.9cr
Box office	3.3 cr

Baishe Srabon (English: 22 Srabon) is a 2011 Bengali psychological thriller directed by Srijit Mukherji. The cast consists of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Raima Sen, Abir Chatterjee and director Gautam Ghosh, making a comeback after a 29-year absence. The film centers on two journalists and two police officers (one suspended) chasing a vengeful Kolkata psychopath, who leaves behind couplets from Bengali poems. Baishe Srabon received positive reviews from critics, and was one of the highest-grossing Bengali films of 2011. The film received an A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification for adult language. The film is inspired by the American 2008 film Righteous Kill which starred Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

Plot

Several murders have taken place throughout Kolkata, for which a serial killer is believed responsible. The murderer strikes in accordance with verses of Bengali poetry, which he leaves next to the victims. The police are baffled; chief detective Abhijit Pakrashi (Parambrata Chatterjee) struggles to solve the case, which takes a toll on his relationship with girlfriend Amrita Mukherjee (Raima Sen). Pakrashi's superior (Rajesh Sharma) brings back an ex-cop, Prabir (Prosenjit Chatterjee), to help solve the case. Prabir, earlier suspended for his violent methods, is notoriously ill-tempered and foul-mouthed. Prabir and Pakrashi work together, while Amrita (a television journalist) and colleague Surya Sinha (Abir Chatterjee) research serial killers for a series whose thirteenth—and final—episode will be about a contemporary murderer. Meanwhile, eccentric poet Nibaron Chakraborty (Gautam Ghosh)—who considers himself part of the Hungry Generation—wanders Kolkata at night reciting poems.

Researching serial killers, Amrita visits a prison where the warden remembers Rafique Ahmed and his only confidant in 18 years of imprisonment: Nibaron Chakraborty. She and Surya go to Nibaron's house to question him; after being greeted by his servant, Swapan, they are convinced he is insane when Nibaron says he has a meeting with "Rabindranath". They almost succeed in learning about Rafique when Surya angers him by mentioning the book-fair arson for which he was imprisoned.

While investigating the case, Pakrashi sees Amrita and Surya together. Jealous and drunk, Abhijit goes to Prabir's house and pours out his heart; he tells Prabir that he lost his father at a young age, and tries to avoid alcohol because of what it did to his father. Prabir tells Pakrashi that he went to work the day after losing his wife and child, encouraging him to be strong. Surya takes Amrita to a cemetery, telling her he would propose in a few days. They end up in a police station after a police officer sees them (and is slapped by Amrita). Pakrashi, still tipsy, rescues them when the inspector recognises Amrita as his girlfriend and they reconcile.

The next day, while randomly discussing poets and poems, Prabir and Pakrashi deduce that the killer strikes on the death anniversaries of well-known Bengali poets. When they search all possible days the killer could strike, they discover that the next date is 29 June: Michael Madhusudan Dutt's death anniversary.

Amrita tells Pakrashi what she and Surya have been doing, including the interview with Nibaron. This convinces him that Nibaron is the killer, especially when Swapan tells Prabir he is now afraid of his employer.

Pakrashi and Prabir watch Nibaron's house on the fateful night. A hooded figure comes out; it is Swapan, fleeing. In the house they discover that Nibaron has committed suicide, and the case is closed.

After a month or so, Rabindranath Tagore's death anniversary (Baishe Srabon) arrives. Prabir invites Pakrashi to meet a man named Rabindranath, and Pakrashi is surprised that "Swapan" is Prabir's servant Kaanai. Prabir admits that he was the mastermind behind the murders, with Kaanai (an ex-convict) carrying them out. He wanted to avenge the police force for his suspension, which he considered an insult to his hard work despite the loss of his family. After saying that today's would be the final killing, he shoots himself.

Cast

• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Prabir Roy Chowdhury
• Parambrata Chatterjee as Abhijit Pakrashi
• Raima Sen as Amrita Mukherjee
• Abir Chatterjee as Surjo Sinha
• Gautam Ghosh as Nibaron Chakraborty
• Rajesh Sharma
• Supriyo mukherjee as businessman

Soundtrack

Baishe Srabon
Soundtrack album by Anupam Roy
Released	27 August 2011
Recorded	2011
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	32:29
Language	Bengali
Label	V-Music

The Baishe Srabon soundtrack is composed and the lyrics penned by Anupam Roy. Soundtrack got released on 27 August 2011.

Tracklist
No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Ekbar Bol"	Anupam Roy	4:59
2.	"Je Kota Din (Duet)"	Saptarshi Mukherjee And Shreya Ghoshal	4:05
3.	"Gobhire Jao (Male)"	Rupankar Bagchi	4:55
4.	"Mati Khunre"	Raghab Chatterjee	5:48
5.	"Ei Srabon"	Rupam Islam	3:42
6.	"Je Kota Din (Male)"	Anindya Chatterjee	4:04
7.	"Gobheere Jaao (Female)"	Shreya Ghoshal	4:54
Total length:			32:29

Literary references

Baishe Srabon is the first mainstream film incorporating the Bengali "hungry generation" movement of the 1960s into its plot.

Reception

Anandabazar Patrika gave Baishe Srabon 8.5 of 10 stars. It was the official selection at the 2011 Dubai International Film Festival, the closing film at the 2012 London Indian Film Festival and an official selection at the Darpan Film Festival in Singapore and the Alliance Francaise Film Festival in Kolkata. The film ran for 105 days, making it one of the most successful of the year. Baishe Srabon received 41 awards. At the Mirchi Music Awards, it won for Best Upcoming Lyricist (Anupam Roy for "Ekbar Bol"), Best Lyricist (Anupam Roy for "Ekbar Bol"), Best Background Score, Best Film Album (Popular Choice), Best Film Album (Critic's Choice), Best Song (Popular Choice) for "Ekbar Bol" and Best Song (Critic's Choice) for "Gobhire Jao". At the Kalakaar Awards, it was the best film; at the ABP-Friend's FM Bangla Music Awards it won for Best Music Director, Best Male Playback Singer (Rupankar for "Gobhire Jao"), Best Song ("Je Kota Din") and Best Film Album. Baishe Srabon won the inaugural Best Movie Poster Award at Srijon Samman 2012; at the 12th Telecine Awards it won the Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Parambrata Chatterjee) and Best Male Playback (Anupam Roy for "Ekbar Bol") awards. At the Zee Banglar Gourab Awards 2012, the film received nine awards from thirteen nominations: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor Critic's Choice (Prosenjit Chatterjee), Best Supporting Actor (Parambrata Chatterjee), Best Music Director, Best Screenplay and Dialogues, Best Male Playback (Rupankar for "Gobhire Jao"), Best Cinematography and Best Editing. At the 2012 Star Guide Bengali Film Awards the film won the Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Male Playback (Anupam Roy for "Ekbar Bol") awards. At the International Bangla Film Academy Awards at Pattaya, Bangkok, Baishe Srabon won the Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Gautam Ghosh), Best Male Playback Singer (Anupam Roy), Best Cinematography and Best Critic's Choice Performance (Parambrata Chatterjee) awards. Raima Sen received her first award for her performance in the film with the Shoilojanando Mukhopadhyay Memorial Award. The film won six awards at the IBFCA Indo-Bangladesh Film Awards: Best Lyricist, Best Composer, Best Playback Singer (male) for Anupam Roy, Best Supporting Actor (Parambrata Chatterjee), Best Actor (Prosenjit Chatterjee) and Best Director.

External links

• Official website
• Baishe Srabon at IMDb
• Facebook Page