I have always been a fan of good stories. I remember when I was in school, I would read all the stories from my English literature book and Hindi literature/Reader on the very first day of my session.
While storytelling exists in different forms such as books, movies, and theatre, movie-making holds a unique importance. Movies do not merely convey a plot, they also shape and limit the viewer’s imagination to the filmmaker’s perspective. When we watch a movie, we do not imagine the characters and settings on our own but we experience them through the lens of the maker. This is why movie-making is one of the most challenging and powerful art forms of storytelling.
There have been many great movies made over time, but I will share a few that I felt had compelling plots and were crafted with remarkable articulation.
Bulbbul
This Netflix original was a masterpiece directed by Anvita Dutta and starring Tripti Dimri in lead role. It was not much hyped but the film is a great creative piece. The plot is full of twists and turns and would keep you hooked from the first scene itself.
The story covers the harsh reality of child marriage, patriarchal mindset in the society, and the complications of one sided love.
The lead, Bulbbul is married at a very young age to a rich man. But she develops an emotional connection with his younger brother, Satya. Satya shares an equal emotional connection with Bulbbul, but he never shows any romantic interest in her. Bulbbul, on the other hand, falls so deeply for him that she cannot bear the pain of losing him when he leaves to pursue his studies in London. Her pain is reflected on her face and is noticed by her husband, and what follows unfolds into a different story of betrayal, torture, and a violent pursuit of justice. The main storyline often pulls the reference of a demon-witch ( chudail), whose story was the bonding bridge between Satya and Bulbbul.
Image courtesy: Google Images
The movie did not just have a compelling story but also a cast that did justice to their roles. The background music was perfect for the plot and the theme often turned to blood red when the story went to the track of demon-witch story, making the depiction more artful. The jewellery, mansion, and other stuffs made the set coherent with the Bengali culture and tradition.
Maharaja
Speaking of good stories, another that comes to my mind is the Vijay Sethupati starrer Maharaja.
This movie has an intense storyline, where a Barber named Maharaja goes to the Police station to report a missing dustbin “Lakshmi”. The police officers first mock Maharaja and are not ready to take the case. But seeing his stubborn and eccentric behaviour and a promise of 5 lakhs by Maharaja, they give in.
Later, it is revealed that the dustbin story is a disguise for a darker and a more painful truth. This movie is a combination of a strong storyline and an excellent acting. It requires attention as the movie jumps back and forth into the flashback and main timeline. One may not even realise that those are flashbacks until you reach the end part of the film.
Image courtesy: Google Images
Padmaavat
Another movie that is an example of excellent storytelling as well as articulate presentation is Padmaavat. This Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie is inspired by history and tells the story of the queen of Mewar, Padmaavati.
News of Padmaavati’s beauty reaches the ears of Alauddin Khilji, who was sitting on the throne of Delhi at that time. He desires to get her and his desire soon turns into obsession. Alauddin wages a war to possess Padmaavati. He wins the war but is unable to get Padmaavati as she jumps in fire along with the other women while performing a war ritual called Jauhar.
Image courtesy: Google Images
The story of Padmaavati is a well known tale. Bhansali’s version is a beautiful representation of the epic tale. The visuals and cinematography are amazing and the actors have put their hearts in their role. Ranveer Singh has given one of his best performances while playing khilji.
I am a huge fan of historical tales and folk lores. I grew up hearing the story of Queen Padmaavati, so this one was a visual feast for me. I loved the background music and screenplay. The cultural aspects of both Rajputana and Mughal traditions were well documented.