Movie Review: Nitantoi Sahaj Saral [2021]

 52nd IFFI Review: Nitantoi Sahaj Saral by Satrabit Paul

Reviewed by Bodhisattya Pal


There has been several attempts and experiments with the pattern and structure of Bengali movies from the last decade; some of them manged to establish themselves with their authenticity and originality but most of them went unnoticed; may be for the crude art house treatment or for the non compatibility with Bengali audiences. Hardly any movies went beyond the pretentious approach and flourished as a distinct, significant work of brilliance; few did; this Satrabit Paul directorial is one of them.

Nitantoi Sahaj Saral impressed me exactly how the makers intended to do. The way it protrayed the aesthetic beauty of rural bengal; it's a true Bengali movie from every aspect. Shot in a therapeutic black and white hue, the movie tells the story of an insignificant icecream seller who set for a journey to a village fair for generating some extra income. In the process of discovering the right way to the fair, he discovered something else! The more people he came across the way, the more he diluted himself in the loop of a perpetual illusion called life.

As the title suggests, it is a real simple movie, as it goes gently, passively through the eyes and mind. But the hidden complexity of the narration is actually the soul of Nitantoi Sahaj Saral. The movie masterfully shifted itself from a slice of life drama to a road movie, from a road movie to a black comedy and from a black comedy to a philosophical surrealism.

The eerie quietness of the narration is compensated by the cleverly put folk songs. The sound design and cinematography was outstanding. The filmmaking and storytelling was of high quality, spontaneous and authentic; the frankness and innocence of the tone brought the memory of Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry.

Nitantoi Sahaj Saral manges to hypnotise the audience with its apparent simplicity and take them in its deep complex whirlpool of emotions and philosophy. A salient Bengali movie which deserves every attention of the world. Scintillating...

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Practicing cinematic meditation amidst the chaos of the world! Currently studying B.Sc Agriculture in the Banaras Hindu University and trying to compose some scattered musical pieces.

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