Chokher Bali (2003)
Movie Overview
Release date: 2003
Runtime: N/A
Genre: Drama
Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Prosenjit, Raima Sen
Director: Rituparno Ghosh
Produced by: Shrikant Mohta, Mahendra Soni
Critics (2)
Users (8)
My Rating
The story of the film is about the relationships between four young people, two men and two women. Mahendra (Prosenjit), is a spoilt young dandy, the pride and despair of his widowed mother Rajlakshmi (Lily Chakraborty). Behari (Tota Roychowdhury), his closest friend is almost like another son to Rajlakshmi. Like all doting mothers Rajlakshmi wants to see her son happily married and she would like to see Behari settled as well. She has a girl in mind for Mahendra, the daughter of a friend of hers. Binodini (Aishwarya Rai) is beautiful and accomplished, but the whimsical Mahendra chooses to refuse her as a wife, having seen only her photograph. So does Behari. Binodini, therefore, finds another husband, only to be widowed within a year.
Mahendra finally settles down with Ashalata (Raima Sen), a girl who was originally engaged to Behari. Rajlakshmi meets Binodini in her childhood home and impulsively brings her back to Calcutta with her.
In Calcutta, Binodini meets the two young men who she might have married. She is also keenly aware of the life she has lost and resents the fact that the naïve Ashalata has what she cannot. She begins to manipulate Ashalata so as to get closer to the young men. Ashalata, on the other hand, is delighted to have someone else to confide in. She gives Binodini a pet name, ‘Chokher Bali' literally meaning sand in the eye.
Binodini uses her intellect to intrigue Mahendra and Behari. She embarks on an affair with Mahendra. However, the affair does not stay a secret for long. Rajlakshmi,wise to Binodini's intrigues,insults her and forces her to leave the house. In despair, Binodini appeals to Behari, asking him to marry her or make her his mistress. Behari refuses. Binodini decides to return to her country home and chooses exile to Benares.
Benares is a kind of revelation for Binodini, a melting pot of death, despair and lost hopes set against the canvas of eternity where she decides to renounce Mahendra. At this crucial moment, Behari arrives at Benares bringing the news of Rajlakshmi's death with him. He realizes Binodini's plight and asks her to marry him. Binodini agrees, but when the wedding day arrives, she is nowhere to be found. She leaves a note for Ashalata saying that freedom is the final reality,the place where one belongs,the only thing that one can call one's own.
Critics Reviews
Urban Cinefile | 2008-09-04
On the whole this is a good, but not great, film - the use of music is fairly conventional, as are the occasional camera flourishes.
Far from Bollywood, the "quality" side of the Indian film industry is represented by this slow yet interesting period melodrama, based on a novel by Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore.
... Full Review
Times of India | 2008-09-14
However, it has already been screened at some of the worlds finest film festivals Toronto, Rome, London and Rotterdam.
But, there are some actors to whom acting comes so easily that they enhance the look and feel of whats asked from them, feels this talented filmmaker.
... Full Review
User Reviews
Very slow-paced; Aishwarya miscast
AishFan@imdb | 2004-11-22
First, I would like to admit that Chokher Bali was not my cup of tea. This movie was evidently not targeted toward the masses. It's the type that critics would enjoy watching. The hype and publicity were quite misleading.I was... Read more at imdb.com
Choker Bali : A reminiscent of our past
freewriter@imdb | 2004-12-25
I saw 2 hour version of Choker Bali. I cannot say that is long. The movie has a certain natural pace to it and does not seem to lag at any time. The costume and the set are reminiscent of... Read more at imdb.com
A critique of the film in the context of the original novel
mallicka-b@imdb | 2004-10-24
The strength of this Tagore novel was the simultaneous portrayal of the baser human instincts and its destructive effects and the nobler human emotions and its uplifting purifying effects in its central protagonist- Binodini. Binodini's deliberate enticement of Mahendra was... Read more at imdb.com
at DC Filmfest 2005
mamlukman@imdb | 2005-04-22
Chokher Bali was shown at the (Washington) DC Filmfest April 15, 2005. The director, Rituparno Ghosh, was there to give a short introduction and answer questions afterwards.As always, I think Aishwarya did a fantastic job. I can understand those who... Read more at imdb.com
My view of this movie
Manohar Dudda@imdb | 2005-08-23
I concur with what mallicka.b has said. The movie is portrayed in a way which appears to be a kind of vilification on the original content. Emotions aren't conveyed properly. I guess a couple of not-so-good performances also contributed to... Read more at imdb.com
Latest News
Chokher Bali in Indian Panorama for 35th IFFI
Sandeep Sawant's Marathi film 'Shwaas', which is India's entry for the Oscars this year, will represent the country in the Asian Competition section along with Anjan Dutt's English movie 'Bow Barracks Forever'. ... Full Article
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