Agantuk (1991)
23KAgantuk: Directed by Satyajit Ray. With Utpal Dutt, Dipankar Dey, Mamata Shankar, Bikram Bhattacharya. A well-off family is paid an unexpected, and rather unwanted, visit by a man claiming to be the woman’s long-lost uncle. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he regales them with stories of his travels, tales that are at odds with their conventional middle-class perspective on the world.
“What civilization we have created in the name of being social animal? What is the real civilization –the tribal one or the one our progressive society has been carrying from the very day of urbanization? Although these are not the questions we often dwell ourselves into; but thatu0026#39;s what great film makers like Satyajit Ray stroke at in subtle films like this one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat happens if any stranger becomes a part of your regular life for whom you carry a suspension of disbelief? Some times we come to know that stranger in the most intimate moment of oneu0026#39;s life. If one thinks too deeply, this film also questions the very human notion of knowing or unknowing which always remains limited and relative in every individual case. In the name of civilization and sophisticated comfort, sometimes we forget to be human in its true sense and this film by Ray is just showing the reflection image with mild and touchy story to nourish in your film watching experience.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAn unexpected and rather unwanted stranger visits the upper middle class Bengali family claiming to be the womanu0026#39;s long lost uncle back to Kolkota after 35 years of his roaming the world. The initial suspicion with which they greet the man slowly dissolves as he starts telling them the stories of his travels; tales which are at odds to conventional middle class perspective of Bengali family. The suspicious husband arranged an intelligent trap to nab him. The story takes an interesting turn as it progress further.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUtpal Dutt is perfect casting choice of Ray for playing u0026#39;To be or not to be uncleu0026#39; who represents suave, intelligent and rational free thinker. However Dutt looks too old compared to his early films; he carried the lead role with his magnetic personality and well presence of character. The film also has some staunch Bengali art house actors like Dhritiman Chattejee, Mamata Shankar, and Deepankar De.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRay seems so relevant even today. Yes you were right sir; we are still u0026#39;Kupmonduku0026#39; but we strive not to be one. Highly Recommended for all those who loves to watch meaningful cinema.”
