Last time it was Daman and now with Phalguna Chaitra my expectation of Odia cinema is rising. Soak it up!
The sunshine part of Phalguna Chaitra – The Good Points.
There are a few movies that hold your attention right from the first frame, Phalguna Chaitra was one of them. The story penned by Sulanga Mohanty is simple yet engaging. The audience can easily relate to the main protagonist Kabya, played by Partha Sarathi Ray, and the leading ladies Ananya (B M Baisali) and Smruti (Ananya Mishra).
The supporting cast are not mere support roles rather they share the frame, and dialogues and hold the story stronger. Jeje/ Das Babu portrayed by Choudhary Jayprakash Das with a handlebar mustache and Kanha (Pranab) owned each and every frame. Bhaswati Basu clad in simple sarees might have the least number of dialogues but she delivers a lot in her expressions. Her grieving eyes, bowed down her head, speak of her loss and later acceptance elegantly. Sukanta Rath played another small but significant role effortlessly. Even the grey character Gauranga and his sidekick added weight to the story.
However, the real heroes of the movie are the director duo – Sisir Kumar Sahu and Peenakee Singh along with Cinematography by Rudrakant Singh. They have captured the scenes beautifully along with the emotions expressed by the actors.
The audience is bound to catch how the breakfast table at Kabya the family is having chakuli and when Kabya moves to the quaint village the meals are served on the floor in the traditional way, manda and arisa pitha as breakfast and even the utensils are Kansa. Making the rustic village charm unmissable. Be it with the folk dance or the Santali-styled saree worn by extras. The little attention to detail like adding a vintage mirror, frame of Lord Jagannath, sandhya Tulasi, radio and tape recorder, algae-covered walls, mobile phone hanging around Jeje’s neck, and that calendar add more depth to every scene. The team has put effort to showcase the life, human memories, and minute interaction keeping storytelling intact.
Another kudos to the costume team who nailed it. Be it Partha dressed in casual dress shirts and pants or Jayprakash ji in dhoti kurta. Especially with Baisali & Ananya who represented the modern Odia girl who can be graceful with kurta-pant and maxi skirts as well as rock the indi-boho looks.
The misses
Sadly, I was left disappointed with the background score which at times was brilliant like the last scene of Kabya-Smruti but took a u-turn with the introduction score of Ananya. The songs are missable. In storytelling, the only sour point was the flashback loops, I felt the audience could have connected the dot making things more power packed. The pretence and the flow during the first half of the story were interesting while the later part seems rushed.
The Conclusion
As an audience, I loved the stellar performance of Choudhary Jayprakash Das and B M Baisali. Cheers to Shakti Jagdev, and the entire team.
You can watch the movie in your nearest theater. Odia diaspora in Australian cities – Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, can also enjoy the movie in theaters. Hope it receives the love and appreciation it deserves.
You might also like Unbelievable.
