Alakshye Ritwik Movie Review : A not-so-unknown biography of a legend

Ritwik Ghatak, often regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, was a visionary who deeply understood the post-modern human psyche and translated it onto the screen. In Alakshye Ritwik, director Subhankar Bhowmik takes a fairly straightforward approach to narrating Ghatak’s life, touching upon key milestones in his career. However, the film largely sidesteps his extended family – figures like Mahasweta Devi, Manish Ghatak, and Pratiti Ghatak – except for vague references to his childhood. Instead, it focuses primarily on his life post-marriage to Surama Ghatak, his time in Mumbai and Pune, and the development of his films.

Shot in black and white—a growing trend in biopics following Aparajito and Padatik—the film attempts to emulate the sepia-toned aesthetic of a Ghatak movie. However, the execution falters. The props, sets, and overall production design fail to create the intended ambiance, especially in scenes recreating iconic moments from his films. The effect is further weakened by generic dialogues, stilted delivery, poorly designed wigs, and lackluster costumes, all of which detract from the film’s seriousness.

Silajit Majumdar delivers a commendable performance as Ritwik Ghatak, capturing the raw energy and clarity that defined the late director. Payel Sarkar, as Surama, is also quite natural in her role. However, beyond these two, most characters remain underdeveloped, with performances that fail to leave an impact.

While the film touches upon Ghatak’s life, influences beyond borders, and his critical contributions as a film theorist, it oversimplifies his struggles. His alcoholism is repeatedly emphasized as the root of his troubles, but the narrative does little to explore the deeper complexities of his later years. This is where Alakshye Ritwik falls short – failing to fully capture the essence of a troubled genius who was ahead of his time. Ghatak wasn’t just a filmmaker; he was a pioneer of Indian art cinema and a creator of critical commentaries that continue to shape cinematic discourse. Unfortunately, this film does not do justice to the depth of his vision or the meticulous craft he brought to each of his works.