Audience Member
This film has minimal dialogue (thank goodness, because Dev does not have the best English diction, bless him) but it does have awesome cinematography and sound recording. The story is coherent, although it drags a tad in the second half. But overall, a decent adventure film which Bengali cinema has not had for a while now.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/13/23
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Not being an ardent fan of bengali movies (and also as they don't get a wide release in mumbai), this one was quite a surprise and deserves atleast a chance from cine-goers.
There were many scenes when your heart skips a beat and all you want in that moment is to never be part of any such similar situations in real life. For instance, there is this one scene when a lion chases the protagonist to his home which is in the middle of some deserted area with no connection to rest of the human civilization. And this was so well shot that you keep thinking how they made it!
The 1st half was well spent establishing the isolated location and the adventurous protagonist. But too soon another character, a portuguese but occasional bengali speaking explorer enters the story. Then begins a very bookish adventure when these two leads embark on a journey in search of a diamond mine. And this part of the story (even without any songs) is so stretched that it feels like its going on forever.
Except a few glitches (when some tribal africans speak bengali suddenly or when both the leads sleep comforatbly on well made wooden charpai even though its common sense that you can't carry these stuff while climbing mountains) and 2.5 hours "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" long, this was a well made movie.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
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Despite the fascinating cinematography & equally good background music, the film fails to mark a lasting impression due to an weak assessment of the novel and unsuccessful characterization of the protagonist.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
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Audience Member
Let me put it like this- Chander Pahar: The Movie was going to be unlike anything we've seen in Bengali movies-that was evident from the grandoise trailer.But what amazes me is that director Kamaleswar Mukherjee,like his protagonist Shankar,takes a huge leap of faith,and takes us to a realm that we,the general Bengali movie-lovers have never ventured into.
Based upon the fabled Bangla novel 'Chander Pahar' by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay,it was a huge gamble the director was taking-as resource was clearly limited for filming this epic adventure in Bengali.No one really dared before Kamaleswar to direct this gem of a literary piece.With that,both the director and it's protagonist,the reigning Bengali superstar Dev,had the additional pressure to prove their mettle on different turf.Kamaleshwar,fresh from his critically acclaimed film 'Meghe Dhaka Tara',craves for box-office golden streak,whereas Dev,the cynosure of the masses,longs for critics and detractors appreciation.
Personally,I was far from being a Dev fan.But after watching this film,I must admit that he's the person to look out for in the industry in the future.He's right bang on target from the first scene-his acting is matured,diction is fairly improved and he's at height of his physical fitness.No one had the physique,charisma or the charm to play Shankar like he did with aplomb.A little bit bit vulnerability in the emotional sequences,that's the only thing anyone can complain about him in the whole film.But hey,even the 'Aamirs','Shah Rukhs' or our very own 'Prosenjits' had their rough days on screen early in their career.
South African actor Gerard Rudolf shines as the magnetic Portuguese treasure-hunter,Diego Alvarez. He subtly complements Dev with his great screen presence & body language.But it was a bit annoying to see him (though the Chinsura- Portuguese background is made up)
and the other foreign characters speaking in Bengali.Then again,it was a necessary call on behalf of the makers, as the common Bengali audience has neither the will to see a movie with subtitles in it,nor has the patience to sit through a movie which has half of its dialog in English.
Technically the film is on par with any Indian movie.And when I say this,I really mean any 'Hindi or Southern VFX laden flick'.
It was really astonishing to see what they've achieved with a meagre $2.4 Million (Rs. 15 Crore) budget.
Director of Photography Soumik Haldar,who can be considered as a path-breaker of sorts after weaving magic with his camera in 'Chaplin', 'Autograph', 'Baishe Srabon', 'Meghe Dhaka Tara', 'Mishawr Rahasya'-outdoes himself in this film.Man! His frames are scintillating!
The beautiful African locales get truly glorified by his breathtaking lens-work.
Many a people might have grudges against the 'Bunyip'-but remember!That's how Bibhutibhusan himself envisioned the creature.
Yes,the VFX is faulty,then again,what could have been done with limited resources?
The only issue I have with the film is that some sequences have serious continuity issues.Specially the erupting volcano scene-as for the VFX-it's not up to the mark in this one-but that's not the only thing that hurts.The impact of the scene is marred when the herd of animals suddenly appears in front of Shankar & Alvarez,and disappears within couple of blinks of an eye.
In an earlier scene,after a 'creature' attacks Shankar,he has a bandage in his hand.But 'why'-it wasn't answered.
Not even cleared is the incident,when Tirumal praises our hero,as if he has killed another animal,when actually he has merely dodged it.
Perhaps these are the things that could have been avoided if the post-productions weren't done haphazardly.
Yes.The producers wanted to capitalize on the Christmas window for a better opening for this cinema grande-it's justified to a certain extent.But still it hurts like a pinch of dirt in a delicate platter of delicacies.
Despite a few loopholes and shortcomings,I must say Kamaleshwar Mukherjee has done a commendable job to bring alive our favourite novel to life in Silver Screen.Hat's off to him for his brilliant vision and indomitable courage-he certainly is the next auteur in making,after setting the standard such high for a Bengali Movie.If this film doesn't bridge the gap between commercial and so-called 'art'/alternative films in our industry,I can vouch no other film would be able to do that in the next few years.
Take My Bow- the whole 'Chander Pahar' team.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/20/23
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Audience Member
Countdown begins to watch it...cant wait any more
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
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Audience Member
Bengali film Chander Pahar had been creating ripples since its pre release days. As one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of Eastern India, Chander Pahar opened with an overwhelming response from audience and critics alike. Based on Bibhutibhshan Bandopadhyay's famous adventure story set in 1909, the film traces Shankar's journey to find the fabled all the way from Keutia, Bengal to Nakuru station (where Shankar worked as a station master for Uganda Railways), to the treacherous Richtersveld Mountains, through the deadly Kalahari desert finally reaching Salisbury, Rhodesia.
Directed by Kamaleswar Mukherjee, the film stars tollywood superstar Dev Adhikari as the protagonist Shankar. Dev, given his appearance and physique slid into the shoes of Shankar perfectly. Coming along way from the Challenge, Paglu & Rangbaaz days, Chander Pahar is a bold move away from his comfort zone. Without a heroine, and being the only actor on screen in much of the later half of the film, Chander Pahar was arguably resting on his shoulders. Dev handled the action scenes perfectly, as he outran elephants & lions, outwitted the black mamba, escaped ravaging volcanoes and fought the plethora of creatures of the African wilderness. The greatest achievement for the actor, is perhaps the fact that he portrays the Shankar's transition as a naïve boy from rural Bengal in Africa, in search of adventure to a survivor against all odds. In terms of emotions, Chander Pahar sees a new avatar of Dev altogether. Shankar's love for his family, his friendship with Tirumal Appa & Diego Alvarez and the pain of losing close friends were enacted beautifully by the actor, who once had a reputation for being unable to act. Much of the later half, according to the original story shows only Shankar as he struggles to find his way back to civilization through the Kalahari Desert. Dev brought to life the Shankar's plight, exhausted and near dead out of thirst, hunger and the brutal climate of the Kalahari. The final twenty minutes or so were enough for Dev to make his mark as an ace actor who is both commercially viable and intellectually capable.
The supporting cast of Diego Alvarez, who informs Shankar of the existence of Chander Pahar and the untold adventures ahead, was taken up by South African superstar Gerard Rudolf. Hailing from Portuguese Chinsura in Bengal, Diego Alvarez is an explorer traversing through Africa in search of wealth and glory. Gerard Rudolf took on the character in style, speaking a few Bengali phrases here and there with foreign accent. Much of the film was forerun by the Dev-Rudolf duo as they rode across the African continent on horses, climbed steep mountains and battled the mythical monster Bunyip, all in search of the mountain of the moon.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/23/23
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