An Unholy Mix of Detection and Relationships - তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা
তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা - Rituparno Ghosh's last work bears the filmmaker's signature qualities - a story of relationships,exploring feminine psyche in its myriad shades. And this exploration adds a new twist to the detective angle in the tale. রাঙাপিসি, a quintessentially Bengali version of Miss Marple, uncovers an elaborate deception. Much like Agatha Christie, Ghosh turns traditionally disparaged, feminine, pastimes into assets. While Miss Marple combines her vast knowledge of village gossip with her keen powers of observation, রাঙাপিসি's deductive powers turn her knowledge of film gossip into an investigative tool. Christie's unpretentious, old maid outwits supposedly smarter people like a retired, Scotland Yard officer. Similarly,in Ghosh's film, রাঙ্গাপিসি's niece, the young, film-journalist, does not suspect any foul play. But it only takes a few clues for the tabloid-happy রাঙাপিসি to smell a rat.
তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা - Rituparno Ghosh's last work bears the filmmaker's signature qualities - a story of relationships,exploring feminine psyche in its myriad shades. And this exploration adds a new twist to the detective angle in the tale. রাঙাপিসি, a quintessentially Bengali version of Miss Marple, uncovers an elaborate deception. Much like Agatha Christie, Ghosh turns traditionally disparaged, feminine, pastimes into assets. While Miss Marple combines her vast knowledge of village gossip with her keen powers of observation, রাঙাপিসি's deductive powers turn her knowledge of film gossip into an investigative tool. Christie's unpretentious, old maid outwits supposedly smarter people like a retired, Scotland Yard officer. Similarly,in Ghosh's film, রাঙ্গাপিসি's niece, the young, film-journalist, does not suspect any foul play. But it only takes a few clues for the tabloid-happy রাঙাপিসি to smell a rat.
However, that's where the similarity between Ghosh and Christie ends. তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা is not a whodunit. Depicting the two women in a dead movie star's life, this film explores nuances of human relationships and complexities of the female mind. A thinly disguised portrayal of the Uttam Kumar,Gauri Devi and Supriya Devi scandal, তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা redeems the "other woman", রঞ্জনা. While the legitimate wife and family of মিহির কুমার (the film star) resort to despicable measures for acquiring his dead body, the so-called "other woman" embraces his memories. বাপ্পা (the film star's son) recognizes the shallowness of a wife's right and the depth of a mistresses's love when he tells his aunt that রঞ্জনা could have moved on, but she chose not to.
Unfortunately, রঞ্জনা ’s scheme at the
hospital mars her devotion. Switching turns with her twin sister, রঞ্জনা allows everyone to believe that she kept a tireless vigil by মিহির কুমার's bed, for three long nights.
Ghosh, of course needs this incident, to render the subsequent deception believable. But the incident leaves a nagging doubt that রঞ্জনা might be the stereotypical, scheming “other woman”.
রঞ্জনা does
not have a profession and we never know how she met মিহির কুমার . Lacking such
vital background information, রঞ্জনা becomes over-sentimentalized – as though, her sole
mission in life is to keep her beau’s memory alive.
The same flaw weakens the story’s suspense
angle. How does রঞ্জনা survive;
albeit in a coma; when the police keep her under house arrest for at least two
days after her suicide attempt? রঞ্জনা ’s twin flawlessly forges her signature,
the moment she is mistaken for her sister. Ghosh proves his ability to write a good detective story by incorporating clever clues for রাঙাপিসি to detect.But glaring logical gaps
in the plot destroys this potential.
Smooth dialogues, peppered with subtle
humour between রাঙাপিসি and her niece and competent acting by the entire cast; testify Ghosh’s film making skills. However these merits fail to save the film. Mystery gets mired in
a relationship tale and তাহার নামটি রঞ্জনা ultimately loses its way.
