Ram Kamal’s ‘Season’s Greetings’ says it all, but silently

By Manju Mittal

”˜Season’s Greeting’s’ is a movie by Ram Kamal Mukherjee which has been released recently and is streaming on Zee5 channel. It is a comeback for actress Celina Jaitley after her hiatus of over a decade her having settled in Europe, married with kids. The movie stars Lilette Dubey (Suchitra) in the role of mother of Jaitley (Romita) and centres around their relationship and the complexity of it all. Its a portrayal in a simple yet in a touching way in this 45-minute movie that is able to express the loneliness of a separated mother who stays in touch with the daughter through letters that she has been writing perhaps to explain why she and her husband parted fifteen years ago. There are many questions left unanswered as the graceful Lilette is shown dressing up as she prepares to meet her daughter and her boyfriend the handsome hulk played by Azhar Khan, when they are invited over for a dinner. The movie actually starts with love scenes between Azhar and Celina both quite intimate, one wonders the connection, the mother whose loneliness is a matter of issue the two discuss, while making love, condom and all and eating momos afterwards.

Lilette Dubey in the meantime has donned a beautiful sari, does her hair, is shown dancing to Rabindra Sangeet, there are some subtle indications that the lady is in love. In between there are scenes of their servant boy who has spent time with young Romita now grown into a beautiful lady having opted for sex change. The story touches you with its elegant style, some covert references here and there when the final scene at the dining table turns into a bit of fireworks between the mother and daughter with Azhar trying to calm the two down. The film’s ending is the one which is a revelation and Ram has been able to keep it under the wraps, yet able to leave some things to the viewer’s imagination. The movie has delightful, soulful poetry ”˜Khamoshi ko kabhi suna hai maine, suna hai tumhari chuppi mein’, lyrics that say so much more about the movie in its ”˜silence ”“ chuppi’. Chapala’s role (househelper) played by Shree Ghatak and Celina’s role could have been developed a bit further as the beginning love scene between her and Azhar does not make much sense, neither does Chapala’s connection with mother’s current orientation and thus her decision she makes about her life.

Produced by Aritra Das and Shailendra Kumar under the banner of Assorted Motion Pictures, ‘Season’s Greetings’ also marks the debut of Jaan Kumar Sanu, son of Bollywood playback singer Kumar Sanu. ‘Sajni   Sajni Shokhi Bhabona Kahare Bole’ is quite melodious sung by the talented Sayani Palit. The film’s soothing music by Shailendra Sayanti adds to the Bengali flavour, is a treat to listen to, with the film tributed to the great film maker Rituparno Ghosh. Do see the movie when it gets a general release.

 

 

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