Name: Raktabeej (2023)
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2023-10-27
Rating: 8.0
Cast: Victor Banerjee, Abir Chatterjee, Mimi Chakraborty, Kanchan Mullick

A gripping thriller unfolds as an important man returns home and an unexpected explosion occurs at a firecracker factory just before Durga Puja. This incident raises suspicions of a bigger, hidden threat to his life.

Raktabeej (2023)

Times of India

With Raktabeej, director duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee have stepped away from their comfort zone to deliver a power-packed action-adventure film.
The multi-starrer is set in remote Khoyragarh, where an explosion unveils a terror angle and a possible attempt to assassinate the President of India, whose house was nearby. The local police teams up with specialists from the ‘Centre’ to combat the threat and ensure safety of the VVIP, while terrorists keep plotting around them.
It is quite evident that the director duo planned out the script quite tightly, segregating it into days and segments that are seamlessly blended to create different narratives and stories from different perspectives. What initially looks like a simple film about an operation, is explored through various characters and their interpersonal relationships - a style they have mastered in their films like Gotro, Bela Seshe, or Praktan. This doesn’t take away from the essence of the fast-paced narrative, and well-shot, tightly edited action sequences (Pratip Mukherjee) amp up the thrill.
The film has many faces - including Victor Banerjee, who plays the President of India (with signature gravitas and easy charm) on a trip back to his hometown for Durga Puja. His older sister (Anashua Majumdar) is happy to see him, but isn’t happy with his decision to reject a mercy plea. The camaraderie that the two display is interspersed with flashbacks from their childhood, and how they grew up as each other’s support. On the other hand, when Pankaj Sinha (Abir Chatterjee) arrives on the scene, he is met with a good deal of disdain from the regional police head, Sanjukta (Mimi Chakraborty), who thinks he would take away all her glory. Abir and Mimi share an easy chemistry that works for them greatly, be it when they are working together to pursue a villain or engaging in a battle of words.
However, Kanchan Mullick as the local police officer in charge, steals the show, be it with his addictive catchphrase or the way he singularly destroys Hindi language by simply speaking it (one may remember a particularly epic scene from Praktan here). Debasish Mondal as the elusive Munir Alam is a treat to watch, and in other roles, Ambarish Bhattacharya, Tanusree Shankar, Gulshanara Khatun, Devlina Kumar, Satyam Bhattacharya, perform well.
Songs and music have been used judiciously throughout the film, and the raucous “Gobindo daant maje na”, the mellifluous “Nakku Nakur Na Jao Thakur”, or the beautiful “Gouri Elo” are definitely here to stay. The use of poetry (Birpurush by Rabindranath Tagore) has been done tastefully. However, the film’s intent to deliver a strong message about terrorism doesn’t allow for much of a backstory for the characters and complete their arcs. But for those who are keen to see how the filmmakers known for their social and family dramas have succeeded in the new genre, this is a must-watch this season.

Raktabeej (2023)

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