Kantatar
DVD cover of Kantatar
Directed byBappaditya Bandopadhyay
Written byDebasis Bandopadhyay
Produced byBinay Prakash
StarringSreelekha Mitra
Sudip Mukherjee
CinematographyRana Dasgupta
Edited byUttam Roy
Music byAbhijit Bose
Distributed byShristri Prods
Release dates
  • 22 July 2005 (2005-07-22) (Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian Cinema)
  • 31 January 2006 (2006-01-31)[1]
Running time
119 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Kantatar (Bengali: কাঁটাতার, Barbed Wire) is a 2005 Bengali film directed by Bappaditya Bandopadhyay,[3] and featuring Sreelekha Mitra, Sudip Mukherjee, Rudranil Ghosh.[4] It received NETPAC Award at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, 2007 for its deceptively simple style with which the complex situation of people trapped in a state of permanent displacement is exposed.[5][1]

Plot

Kantatar (Barbed Wire) revolves around the journey of Sudha (Sreelekha Mitra), a socio-political-love drama, Kantatar centers on an illegal immigrant's search for identity and her effort to survive sake and in search of an identity, moves from one man to another and from one religion to another. The sudden threat of cross border terrorism entirely changes the socio-political situation in a remote village close to the frontier, the army rolls into town, and the drastic changes take their toll on inter-personal relationships as they are marred by suspicion, competition and fear. Sudha takes refuge in a temporary weather camp just outside the village. She develops a physical relationship with Binod (Sudip Mukherjee), the weather balloonist, whose job it is to take note of the frequent change of wind direction. But soon Sudha's identity comes into question and she is seen as a suspect. Her dream of a secure shelter is once again threatened. This is a beautiful and engaging film, which luxuriates in the story and its location. The visual poetry and unfettered exploration of the ongoing conflict on the borders of India and Bangladesh come together with great impact and insight. There are brilliant touches of both satire and social comment, which go to show that Bappaditya Bandhopadhay has a lot to say about today's India. Sudha's hard life consists of weaving herself in and out of different relationships with men and dabbling in various religions. The immediate threat of attack entirely changes the climate of her remote border village, and as the army rolls into town, inter-personal relationships are drastically affected. Suspicion, competition and fear start to grip the villagers. Sudha takes refuge in a temporary weather camp just outside the village. Binod, a meteorologist working in the village, becomes fascinated by Sudha, and they soon begin a physical relationship. But when Sudha's identity is called into question, she is seen as a terrorist suspect. Her dreams of security are once again threatened. Kantatar is visually engaging, luxuriating in the lush locales where it was filmed. Director Bappaditya Bandhopadhay relies on both satire and social comment to tell his story, all the while exploring the ongoing conflict on the borders of India and Bangladesh. Modern India is portrayed with great impact and insight.

Cast

Critical reception

Bappaditya Bandopadhyay at International Asian movies festival in Vesoul, 2007

Awards

Award Year Category Recipient Result Ref.
NETPAC Award at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema 2007 Bappaditya Bandopadhyay Won
BFJA Awards 2007 Best Actress in a Leading Role Sreelekha Mitra Won [7]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Rudranil Ghosh Won
Best Cinematographer Rana Dasgupta Won
Anandalok Awards 2006 Best Actress Sreelekha Mitra Won

World Sales: Wide Management Ltd. France[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Sengupta, Reshmi (30 January 2006). "The Telegraph - Beyond barbed wires". Calcutta, India: www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  2. ^ "KANTATAR - Film Database - Movie Database". www.citwf.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  3. ^ "Kantatar (2005) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. ^ "BFI-Film & TV Database-KANTATAR (2005)". ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  5. ^ FICA. "Barbelés - Festival des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul". www.cinemas-asie.com (in French). Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  6. ^ Biswas, Pallabi (10 February 2006). "What's it about ? the barb or the wire?". Calcutta, India: www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  7. ^ "69th & 70th Annual Hero Honda BFJA Awards 2007". www.bfjaawards.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  8. ^ "FESTIVAL AND AWARDS". kantatar.tripod.com. Retrieved 25 October 2008.

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