Alik Sukh

Alik Sukh.[1][2]

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee
Nandita Roy
Produced by Atanu Roy Chowdhury
Written by Suchitra Bhattacharya
Screenplay by Nandita Roy
Based on Alik Sukh 
by Suchitra Bhattacharya[3]
Starring Debshankar Haldar
Rituparna Sengupta
Sohini Sengupta
Music by Anindya Chatterjee
Nachiketa Chakraborty
Cinematography Shirsha Roy
Edited by Moloy Laha
Release dates
  • July 19, 2013 (Kolkata)
Running time
137 minutes
Country India
Language Bengali

Alik Sukh (English:Unreal Happiness) is a 2013 Indian Bengali psychological thriller drama film directed by the duo Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy, starring Debshankar Haldar, Rituparna Sengupta and Sohini Sengupta in the lead roles. It released on July 19, 2013.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][10][10][11][11][12][13][14]

Plot

A renowned gynaecologist, Dr Kingshuk Guha (Debshankar Haldar), finds himself in a professional crisis when one of his patients, Kabita Mondol (Sohini Sengupta), dies on the operating table while he is away buying a luxury apartment for his family. Kabita’s enraged husband (Biswanath Basu) and relatives attempt to mob the hospital. On hearing the news, Kingshuk’s wife, Rumi (Rituparna Sengupta), rushes to the hospital to be with her husband. She happens to see Kabita's corpse lying unattended in the empty operation theatre and begins to imagine that the dead woman is communicating with her.

Well-off, in a loving marriage, and pregnant with the couple’s second child, Rumi begins to question her own right to happiness when her husband has been responsible for depriving another family of its loved one. She becomes emotionally alienated from Kingshuk when he refuses to accept culpability for Kabita’s death. Kingshuk, in turn, grows frustrated at Rumi's lack of support as he faces investigation by a medical committee and a compensation claim of Rs. 1,000,000 by Kabita’s relatives. Kingshuk and Rumi's relationship sours to a point that they cease speaking to each other.

Eventually, Rumi leaves with her son to stay for a while at her parents’ house. Kingshuk manages to reach an out-of-court settlement for Rs. 300,000 with Kabita’s relatives. Relieved and wishing to reconcile, he calls Rumi, announcing that he has "bought the patient party". Rumi is devastated at Kingshuk’s callous attitude and the lack of justice for Kabita. Soon after receiving the call, she suffers a fall and has a miscarriage, which leads to severe abdominal haemorrhaging. The tables are turned and Kingshuk finds himself in the same position as Kabita's crazed husband as the medical team at the local hospital takes its time in attending to Rumi.

Rumi survives. A penitent Kingshuk seeks forgiveness for his actions and promises to make things better between them. From Rumi’s perspective, Kabita finally experiences closure. Hopes for a happier future emerge.

Cast

Crew

Direction

Nandita Roy, also the screen playwright of the film has been working in the film industry for the past 28 years. She has worked in best banners with leading directors and in top production houses. She has worked in many National Award winning films and television serials. She has directed as well as produced a number of television serials. She was the Creative Director and first Programming Head of ETV Bangla, one of the leading channels of West Bengal and was responsible for its establishment in Kolkata. She is the member of Indian Film Director’s Association, Mumbai and Indian Film Writer’s Association, Mumbai. She has also co-directed Bengali films like Ramdhanu, Icche, Muktodhara and Accident. Shiboprosad Mukherjee has been working in the television media for the last 15 years. He was associated with ETV Bangla, a 24 hours satellite channel from its inception and was responsible for its programme designing. He has been involved in several television serials as a producer and as a programme designer. As an actor, he has worked with many leading directors of this film industry. He has also co-directed Bengali films like Ramdhanu, Icche, Muktodhara and Accident.[15][16]

Influences

In an interview to The Times of India, director Shiboprosad Mukherjee said that although the film is based on a novel, it was influenced by his father's death on April 15, 1994. Regarding his personal experience regarding the lives of doctors, he said,

It was Poila Baishak and my father suddenly complained of chest pain. I rushed him to a para-doctor and he asked us to shift Baba (father) to a hospital immediately as he had suffered a heart attack. I called an ambulance and took him to a hospital only to find that there were no attendants or doctors around as it was Poila Boishak! The few junior doctors present there couldn't do anything. When I finally got hold of a doctor, he was leaving for the day. He told me since it was a festive day, the hospital was low on staff and he couldn't help us. My father breathed his last that night. Whether it was family obligations or something else that was going through the doctor's mind, is a question that still haunts me as I lost my father for it.[3]

Soundtrack

Soundtrack of Alik Sukh has been composed by Anindya Chatterjee and Nachiketa Chakraborty.[17]

Response

Alik Sukh has heavily stirred the conscience of all the individuals, irrespective of the profession they belong to. It has been critically acclaimed and has also contributed a big deal in raising the standard of the tollywood film industry. It ran in theatres successfully for 50 days. Later, on the 15th of September,2013, it made an all-India release.[12][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]<ref name=="WordPress Review">"New Bengali Film Did a Marvelous Job at the Box Offices". WordPress. Retrieved 16 August 2013.</ref>[32][33]

Accolades

Alik Sukh was premiered at the Marché du Film section in Cannes Film Festival in 2013. Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee received the Filmfare Awards East for Best Direction for the film Alik Sukh this year. In the same Awards ceremony, Rituparna Sengupta received the award for Best Actor and Anindya Chatterjee for Best Lyrics for Alik Sukh.

Track listing

No. TitleSinger(s) Length
1. "MBBS"  Anindya Chatterjee  
2. "Ke Jane Thikana"  Nachiketa Chakraborty  
3. "Na Re Na Ore Mon"  Nachiketa Chakraborty  
4. "Raat Jaye"  Anindya Chatterjee  
5. "Bidae Theme"  Instrumental  

See also

References

  1. "Alik Surgery, article by Dr. Kunal Sarkar of Medica Hospital". Sambad Pratidin. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  2. "Ei prothom bangla chhobi te bhoomishtho drishhyer shooting". Ebela. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Shiboprosad's Alik Sukh is inspired by his father's demise". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. "Alik Sukh: Main Details". Gomolo. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  5. "Alik Sukh Album out on times music". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  6. "A Humble Tribute to Doctors". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  7. "Anindya will render a song by his senior in Alik Sukh". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  8. "Interview with Debshankar Haldar". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  9. "Alik Sukh is a film with a message". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Alik Sukh puts doc negligence under lens". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Alik Sukh goes to the Cannes Film Festival". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Stars sizzle at Alik Sukh premiere party". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  13. "Alik Sukh Music wrapped in nostalgia". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  14. "Alik Sukh Music Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  15. "Alik Sukh review by Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  16. "Alik Kalpana-Dual Personality in Bengali Film". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  17. "Alik Sukh soundtrack album". Hungama.com. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  18. "Forget Hippocrates! Are doctors hypocrites?". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  19. "Housefull ei Sukh". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  20. "Personal life of doctors". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  21. "After Paromitar Ekdin,Ritu-Sohini pair in Alik Sukh". Ebela. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. "Ritu Sohini in Alik Sukh". Ebela. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  23. "Alik Sukh to Cannes Film Festival". Ebela. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  24. "Alik Sukh in Cannes Film Festival". Ebela. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  25. "Alik Sukh Music Launch in Bengal Club". Ebela. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  26. "Alik Sukh niye upche porchhe agroho". Ebela. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  27. "Alik Sukh Success Party in Bengal Club". Ebela. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  28. "Alik Sukh Review-Alik Obhiggyota". Ebela. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  29. "Alik Sukh muktir kaale Debshankar Haldar mukhomukhi". Ebela. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  30. "Alik Sukh movie review". rhododendron.
  31. "Alik Sukh-a really good attempt at story-telling". tollywood dhamaka.
  32. "Alik Sukh-Sukher-e Sonchaar". Anandalok.
  33. "Alik Sukh miss korben na". Bangla Live.

External links

Alik Sukh at the Internet Movie Database