Kahaani: A Love Song for Kolkata

One of the luxuries that I have indulged in in the last one year is re-viewing classic films, re-reading my favorite books and catching up on my to-read and to-watch lists. It is a tragedy of our times that one rarely comes across new films which you finish watching and immediately go - �I need to watch this film again.�

Sujoy Ghosh�s Kahaani makes you feel that way. And I am not the only one who thinks so. More than professional film critics, it is the lay viewers and film buffs who are raving about this film and its maker. Every blogger worth his salt has been putting out a post on Kahaani, and I didn�t want to be left out. However, this post is not a review of the film, there are already way too many excellent commentaries on it out there, like Harsha�s review or Jayalaxmi�s look at Sujoy. Neither is it relevant whether you have or have not seen the film. If you have not seen it, you will want to see it after you read this, and if you have seen it, you will want to see it again after reading this post. This post is about the Rubik�s cube.

Just kidding, this is really about Kolkata. And Kolkata can put the Rubik�s cube to shame on any weekday afternoon. This post is about the Rubik�s cube that is Kolkata. The Kolkata that Sujoy turns into a cinematic feast through the eyes and ears of Setu on the camera, Namrata Rao on the rock & roll machine, and Allwyn Rego with the samples, sliders and occasional loops. The Kolkata that I grew up in, loved to a point where she became someone I could not bear to be around. The Kolkata that sways with new promises every time I return, promises that are tempting but not strong enough to hold me back. The Kolkata that makes your heart ache every time you cross the river to catch a train back or step out of the humid Dum Dum air into the aseptic airport lobby. The Kolkata that makes you want to watch Kahaani over and over again, not for its story or the acting, but for the colors, the light, and the sounds of perfect love.
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