Among the vast number of regional films produced in India, mostly commercial, very few manage to catch viewers’ attention beyond their specific regions. Director Mainak Bhaumik’s Bengali drama Bedroom is one of those rare exceptions, standing out with its exceptional content and universal appeal. It features characters that represent urban Indians and their modern-day relationships.
One of the finest aspects of this movie is how, while portraying characters from urban India, the director skillfully interweaves them across three different storylines. Bedroom tells the story of three couples: Anando and Priyanka, Joy and Ritika, and Dev and Ipshita.
Anando (Abir Chatterjee) is a workaholic software engineer married to Priyanka (Paoli Dam), a loving housewife who craves her husband’s attention. Their marital relationship is strained, as Anando is unable to find time for his wife due to an extreme workload and his ambition to get promoted. However, their relationship is thrown into turmoil when Priyanka meets her former boyfriend and Anando loses his job.
Next, we meet Joy (Rahul), an aspiring actor turned drama teacher, who is in a live-in relationship with his ambitious and modern fashion photographer girlfriend, Ritika (Parno Mittra). Although deeply in love, Joy’s male ego prevents him from accepting that Ritika earns more and essentially supports the household. Their relationship teeters on the edge, with constant verbal spats—one of which even pushes Ritika into a casual fling.
Then there is Dev (Rudranil Ghosh), a talented actor who seems to succeed at being with a new girl almost every other day. A past heartbreak, when he discovered a former girlfriend was cheating on him, has left him disillusioned with love and marriage. However, his worldview begins to shift when he meets Ipshita (Ushashie Chakraborty), a journalist. Still, both harbor a fear of rejection that keeps them from confessing their feelings.
But that’s not all. In addition to these stories—Anando, Joy, and Dev are friends—there are other characters: Tanisha (Tanusree Chakraborty), who believes Joy can accept her past as a prostitute; Rajat (Vikram Chatterjee), an NRI investment banker and Priyanka’s former lover who has returned to rekindle their old romance; and a wannabe model (Anubrata), who has a casual fling with Ritika.
The movie explores how all these characters deal with their struggles. It’s up to the audience to discover whether they succumb to the complexities of life or emerge with renewed hope. Kudos to the director for weaving together such layered stories while keeping the film fresh and comprehensible. Bedroom represents a new kind of cinema in the regional space, although I’m not sure how often Bengali films tackle themes quite like this.
Cast: Abir Chatterjee, Rahul, Rudranil Ghosh, Paoli Dam, Parno Mittra, Tanusree Chakraborty, Ushashie Chakraborty, Vikram Chatterjee, Biswanath Basu, and Anubrata Basu, among others
Director: Mainak Bhaumik
Writer: Mainak Bhaumik
Cinematographer: Supriyo Dutta
Language: Bengali
Release Date: January 6, 2012
Here’s another interesting Bengali film: Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy, which features three amusing ghost stories.
Where to watch Bedroom (2012) - Original Title: বেডরুম
