New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- The Golden Daku' is anything to go by, the sequel is set to raise uncomfortable questions about the system.
From delays in the payment of dearness allowance (DA) to how the common man is caught between the police and the government, the film appears to explore several socio-political realities. A sequel to the 2024 Durga Puja blockbuster 'Bohurupi', it seems to take its anti-establishment undertones a step further. And director-actor Shiboprosad Mukhopadhyay, who returns as Bikram Pramanik, a common man turned dacoit, isn't afraid to ask difficult questions through his films. Why, then, does he refrain from speaking about socio-political issues in real life?
"A poet expresses himself through poetry, a painter through paintings and a director through films. Besides, shouldn't the representatives of our film industry, who are all stars and superstars and also involved in full-time politics, answer these questions?" he asked.
It's a longstanding paradox in the Bengali film industry, where several celebrities are active members of political parties but are rarely heard speaking up on pressing socio-political issues. "They are our role models. They are all successful and I am learning from what they are teaching us," he said with a smirk.
Following the record-breaking success of 'Bohurupi' in 2024 Puja, Shiboprosad and his directorial partner Nandita Roy return with a sequel that blends commercial appeal with pointed social commentary.
"There is an anti-establishment message in the film. But we have shown what we have read, learnt and seen. A retired person died without receiving his DA. Even a police officer is struggling in life. His family uses him, while relatives and society put pressure on him. Have we not seen such people in reality? When an ordinary person falls victim to fraud, we must look at the backstory," said the filmmaker, known for hits such as 'Haami' and 'Bela Shuru'.
Known for their family-centric dramas, Nandita and Shiboprosad ventured into thrillers with 'Raktabeej' in 2022, followed by 'Bohurupi' in 2024. The latter combined commercial ingredients with a strong socio-political narrative, while Shiboprosad's portrayal of Bikram Pramanik earned considerable attention.
Their latest success, 'Phool Pishi O Edward', has already made a mark at the box office this year. Asked whether Bengali cinema has performed below expectations in 2026, Shiboprosad responded with a sarcastic observation.
"When actresses play the lead, how can those films be called hits? We think only male actors are capable of pulling it off at the box office," he said. The smirk is back again. The irony is hard to miss: 'Phool Pishi O Edward' and 'Ajo Ardhangini', two of the Bengali releases to perform well at the box office this year, are both led by women.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.