Cholai

Cholai is a dark satirical comedy that beautifully captures the essence of Indian bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption. This Bengali movie from 2016, directed by Arun Roy, features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Saswata Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukherjee, and Partha Sarathi.

The narrative of Cholai is inspired by a real event, the 2011 hooch tragedy in West Bengal that claimed numerous lives. However, it's not just a dramatized reenactment of the incident but a poetic and grim critique of the societal, political, and administrative mechanisms that contributed to this disaster and deal with its aftermath.

Saswata Chatterjee, known for his impeccable acting skills, plays the character of Nilen, who runs a hooch shop in a small village along with his friend Aloy (played by Kharaj Mukherjee). Partha Sarathi completes the trio as Bibek, an NGO worker who's the voice of reason and conscience in the otherwise corrupt and chaotic world. These characters find themselves entangled in an unfortunate series of events when their cheap liquor, merely intended to create a momentary escape from reality for the village people, ends up causing a wave of fatalities across the village, leading to a state of disarray and dismay.

Upon hearing the news, the panicked government officials, in another comedic plot point, decide to provide compensation to the 'victims' families, but the system's inefficiency and corruption leads to horrific outcomes. The movie weaves dark humor effortlessly into the storyline, creating an unusual and engrossing atmosphere that keeps viewers hooked while effectively communicating significant societal critiques.

Cholai subtly and creatively communicates the devastating impact of alcoholism on poor communities and the role of exploitative forces in society who take advantage of such situations for personal gain. The film brings to light how these populations, often ignored, are the most affected by systemic corruption and failure.

The brilliant trio of Saswata Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukherjee, and Partha Sarathi excels in their performances. They do justice to the non-linear narrative of the script by their compelling portrayal of people caught in the grips of a society plagued with corruption, inefficiencies, and repercussions of their actions. Saswata, with his innocent yet determined demeanor, embodies the character of Nilen deeply, while Kharaj, known for his involvement in comedy roles, brilliantly handles the darker tones of Aloy. Partha is superb as Bibek, subtly echoing his dissent against the system that seems more interested in saving its face rather than its people.

The cinematography of Cholai deserves a special mention. It effectively captures the day-to-day life in a rural setting and the hopelessness that follows the tragedy. Various hues of rural Bengal have been captured beautifully in this film, making the very dirt and despair visually appealing and speaking volumes through imagery.

Despite the dark theme, Cholai has a fair share of comic relief which stems from the harsh realities of society and machinery involved post the tragedy. The hide-and-seek of coffin and the goof-ups in death certificates only show how ill-prepared our bureaucracy is to handle such situations. The director has made it clear that comedy can also be a biting form of protest and criticism.

While Cholai is a satirical story on the surface, at its core it's a deep commentary on society's shortcomings and government bureaucracy. Its ability to intertwine comedy and tragedy is remarkable and rare, representing the true spectrum of human experience and delivering a compelling visual narrative. The film manages to leave its audience pondering societal issues while engaging them with excellent performances, a well-structured plot, and visually striking scenes.

In conclusion, Cholai is a must-watch for those who appreciate sharp and dark satires that challenge them to think while also entertaining. The performances by Saswata Chatterjee, Kharaj Mukherjee, and Partha Sarathi are spellbinding, and the director Arun Roy's vision and execution leave a lasting impact.