Shankhachil Takes Flight!

The name of the film is that of a bird, rare in nature. Not everyone is able to appreciate its speciality. 

A mundane  story, yet rendered heart-wrenching by making forays into the intricacies of Bengali minds once dwelling in an undivided land.

Rupsha, a little girl from a remote village of Bangladesh, is the protagonist, around whom the plight revolves. She is not just ill, but she becomes a metaphor for the sordid tales of many Rupshas.Her illness is a haunting metaphor for the illnesses within people's minds.

Prasenjit Chattopadhyay,who brings the character of Badal Chowdhury to life, is the quintessential Bengali father with his characteristic affection and a weakness for his daughter. He is a teacher by profession. A man endowed with modern thinking, he preaches the same. He is exactly what one would call "the son of the soil".

Laila, the mother of Rupsha, complements Badal, coming off as a very typical Bengali mother and homemaker, ever anxious about her child.Her love for her family steals hearts.

Every character in the film was at its best. The scenes, the plots have been beautifully created and are much
relatable for most of the Bengali populace, who have either witnessed the Partition, or have come to hear of it through their forefathers. It is built  straight on the sentiments of a community ripped apart by circumstances.

A  touching character was that of Nakul Vaid ( Little Rupsha's Dosto), who is a BSF officer of India, on duty in the borders, far away from his home in Rajasthan, where he has a daughter as little and no less sweeter than Rupsha. The unspoken and effortless bonding, that grows between them, is one to cherish. The heart cries for one last time, when in the climax, we finally do catch a view of the "Sankhachil" and the bird flies high into eternity.

Sankhachil is a tale every Bengali, regardless of religion and age, will be able to connect with. The connection is deep enough to create a stir in the heart.
After watching the film, one is sure to come out of the hall with a heavy heart and blurry eyes, accompanied by a smiling face, which celebrates the flight of the free bird.

 P.S. It's never too late to watch a National Award winning movie. Go and watch!

Edited by Aritra Chatterjee.

About The Author

 

 Priyankur Sengupta is a passionate designer in the making. He loves to cook & is a foodie. Traveling and styling are his keen interests. He is also a core team member of the Express Magazine.