 "The Diary of West Bengal movie review: Arshin Mehta delivers brave and poignant performance in this socio-political film")
Cast: Yajur Marwah, Arshin Mehta, Ramendra Chakarwarti, Gauri Shankar
Director: Sanoj Mishra
The story in The Diary of West Bengal focuses on the supposed influx of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi extremists into West Bengal, and the resulting socio-political turmoil that ensued. It is told from the lens of Suhasini Bhattacharya (Arshin Mehta), a Hindu woman from Bangladesh who crosses border to West Bengal after her parents are murdered in a genocide. She is aided by Islamic radicals and is later forced to convert to Islam to attain political votes. In midst, she becomes victim of Love Jihad when Prateek disguises himself as Atik who too has a motive to convert her. What happened ahead is a series of brutal events.
Sunoj Mishra directorial attempts to tell a brave story and has done detailed research which is palpable. He depicts events in an explosive and honest way evoking a wide range of emotions. through some of the best performances, emotionally touching scenes, and a few barbarous passages. Be it girls being killed, political questions being raised or brutal rapes happening, he has showcased the reality in a way that leaves a lump in the throat. The whole narrative is supported by apt camerawork, taut editing and intense background score.
What further grabs our attention is nuanced performances. Arshin as Suhasini definitely shines in her part as she convinces us with her portrayal. Further, ajur Marwah, Neet Mahal, Garima Kapoor, Alfiya Sheikh, Deepak Kamboj, Dev Fauzdar, Wasim Rizvi and Gauri Shankar too manage to leave an impact.
After watching The Diary of West Bengal, you may be left with several queries about current state there. This political drama is disturbing but manages to leave an impact. To note, this one is not for the faint-hearted.
Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)
The Diary of West Bengal is playing in cinemas
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