Normally when I start writing a review, I already have an
outline sketched out. I know how I will begin the sketch.
Unfortunately, today I have no idea.
Well then, let’s begin with the fact that Antareen is my
first Mrinal Sen movie. I realized that it’s based on Manto’s short story. I
thought I have read Manto quite extensively, but couldn’t for the life of me,
recall this story. Trying to figure out the name of the story was quite a task.
It is “Badshahat Ka Khatma” by Manto.
The movie starts with “the writer” (Anjan Dutta) getting a
letter from his friend Dilip, inviting him to stay at his once palatial haveli,
now falling to ruins. The family is away and Dilip thinks the haveli will help
inspire “the writer”. You will wonder, why I am not naming the writer. This is
one of those movies where the viewer never gets to know the name of either of
the protagonists.
The writer turns up at this almost dilapidated compound with
most of the old building in disrepair. Searching for a muse, “the writer” wants
to be left alone. Actually, we never really get to know, who he is and what he
wants (except that he loves tea). There is in no elucidation of anything
personal or professional about him – or what he writes or why is he searching
for inspiration. He has just settled in when he receives an anonymous call by a
woman – “the woman” (Dimple Kapadia). She strikes a conversation and very soon their
conversation becomes a regular occurrence.
Through bits and pieces, we realize that “the woman” is a
mistress of a wealthy man who now ignores her. She calls random numbers to talk
to everyday, “the writer” being one of them. “The woman” lives alone with no
company except for an old servant.
(I had written the
above part a couple of days ago, when I saw the movie. For some reason, I just
couldn’t figure out what to write after this. No matter how hard I tried, I
just couldn’t decide what I wanted to write about the movie. So, I figured I
should read the story the movie is based on. Ordered the book on Amazon (turned
out to be a blessing, it has quite a few Manto’s stories I haven’t read
earlier), and here I am back to writing the review.)
After having read the book, I understood why I couldn’t go
on with the review. For me the movie was, well, sort of meaningless.
If I have to talk about what got me interested in watching
the movie was the summary - “A writer
moves into the palatial house of a friend to find creative inspiration. A
chance telephonic chat with a mysterious woman blossoms into love as he finally
finds what he was looking for.” coupled with the name.
However, for the first part, it was never clear what is it
that the writer is searching for. And in
the
In the actual story, the man is waiting for true love for
his life to start. Until then he just exists. This gives the telephone calls
some meaning.
In the movie, it’s just a woman flirting on the phone. I
don’t really think Dimple Kapadia quite got the essence of the character. All
she managed to sound was flirtatious rather than whimsical. Her portrayal of
“the woman” was rather flat and one dimensional.
The only idea worth making a note of was perhaps how the two
characters are confined in their spaces or circumstances. The other reference
was the one to Khudito Pashan (The Hungry Stones) by Tagore. The minor reference
was to the haveli where “the writer” lived as compared to the palace in the story.
The main reference was the hint of comparison between the “the woman” and the Bedouin
girl from the story.
Anjan Dutta also failed to bring forth the fervor which
should have increased with every phone call.
I am not quite sure if the actors are to be blamed though.
This looks like a directorial disaster where the director just couldn’t get it
right. Mrinal Sen had two great stories from Manto and Tagore and the idea is
inspired. Unfortunately, it is as if he picked the words but forgot the soul of
the story, its essence.
Read the books, skip the movie.
Do skip.
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