Bioscopewala has characters from Kabuliwala, the much-loved 1892 Rabindranath Tagore short story. What the filmmakers admirably do is craft new layers to the classic Tagore tale of pure companionship. In adding these layers, they both enrich and rob the film of the original story’s magic. But more on that later.
Tagore and adaptations: What is it about Rabindranath Tagore’s stories that continue to stay relevant? What are some of the best Tagore adaptations on television and cinema? The first movie that comes to the mind is the Bimal Roy special, Kabuliwala (1961) starring the great Balraj Sahni. This movie is remembered for its sensitivity, and also the Salil Choudhury soundtrack. ‘Aye Mere Pyare Watan‘ is particularly stirring as an ode to moving away from your country in search of work and remembering it fondly.
It is a pity that Indian cinema doesn’t have a culture of restoring and re-releasing cinema classics in theatres, or for the sake of posterity. That is the reason the gentle beauty of the 1961 movie is lost on the modern movie audience.
The most impressive Tagore adaptation in the last decade has easily been the made-for-TV Anurag Basu production – Stories by Rabindranath Tagore. This lovely series has great production quality, wonderful performances, and strikingly showcased why Tagore was way ahead of his time. The screenplay element of bridging each story with a character from another Tagore story was a unique way to bind the stories together. While the death of great TV content was proclaimed long ago in India – Stories by Rabindranath Tagore proved that trend wrong.
The Bioscopewala StoryÂ
France-based documentary filmmaker Minnie (Geetanjali Thapa, competent) returns home to Kolkata abruptly. Minnie’s father, the famous fashion photographer Robi Basu (Adil Hussain, brief pivotal role) has died in a plane crash, on the way to Afghanistan.
While Minnie is wondering why her father was traveling to the war-torn country, her father’s faithful aide Bhola (Brijendra Kala, stand out act) brings home a mysterious old and ailing man (Danny Denzongpa, amazing as usual, underutilized).
An already shaken up Minnie is at first irritated and alarmed at the old man’s presence. She gradually remembers that the old man is none other than Rehmat Khan, “the Bioscope man”, her dear friend from her long-forgotten childhood. Full of memories and curious, Minnie decides to investigate further.
A Thrilling Suspense Drama with HeartÂ
At intermission, I was disappointed to see little of the unique friendship that the little girl and Rehmat Khan (the title character) share in the short story. The father-daughter tangle required more exploration.
But things fall together like a fascinating jigsaw puzzle in the second half.
Minnie gradually discovers the man Rehmat Khan is through his old notorious neighbour, two Afghani women, and her father’s files. She pieces together facts and rediscovers her past and Rehmat Khan in a new light.
A film that aches with genuine feeling, nostalgia, melancholy, deep human emotions and the balm of cinema. I left the theater with a deeply-affected heart.
Bioscopewala is a Beautiful AdaptationÂ
Stunning in parts, insightful and subtle in conveying emotions, holding its own as a topical drama, Bioscopewala is a gem of a movie. The filmmakers have courageously reinterpreted a classic tale for a contemporary audience.
Applause for the writers (Deb Medhekar & Sunil Doshi), screenplay writers (Doshi & Radhika Anand), director (Deb Medhekar), and the cast.
A big thumbs up also to the sole title song Bioscopewala, charmingly written by Gulzar, marking the return of Sandesh Shandilya (Socha Na Tha, Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham) and beautifully sung by K Mohan.
Cinema lovers, don’t miss Bioscopewala at the theaters this week.
