Hemanter Aparanha

A superannuated gentleman residing in the countryside is suddenly drawn into the world of theatre. The local group wants him in a Bengali version of a Pirandello play and he becomes involved with one of the players, a young girl in her twenties who, like him, is new to theatre. Against the backdrop of the pandemic and the imminent war in Ukraine, this story of a highly unlikely relationship unfolds even as a strictly conservative society looks on with baited breath. As the pandemic necessitates a hiatus in the rehearsals and the emptiness of his house engulfs him, the lonely gentleman gets sucked into a world of fantasy; his expectations build up and he becomes acutely sensitive to his milieu.

Directed by Ashoke Viswanathan, Hemanter Aparanha leans on a strong ensemble — Anusha Viswanathan, Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Satyapriya Mukhopadhyay — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2024.