The Storyteller

If one reads Satyajit Ray's short story "Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro (Storyteller Tarini Uncle)" one would hardly find enough material to make a feature-length film out of it. There are other Tarini stories of course, but Ananth Mahadevan's "The Storyteller" is based only on the aforementioned one. Hence, the makers have had to add stuff, drag out the narrative, build upon the characters and feed in underlying themes.

Casting Paresh Rawal as a Bengali was nothing short of a blunder. And it felt like he wasn't given much to base his character off of - the worst thing that can happen to a Ray adaptation. Adil Hussain as the Gujarati businessman Garodia too seemed out of it. Additional supporting characters have been sprinkled in generously but most of them didn't seem to add much to the narrative. I failed to understand the dynamics between Tarini and the librarian Suzie (Tannishtha Chatterjee - awfully miscast). Only Revathi somehow makes her mark despite her limited screen time.

Clichés have been added in poor taste (two things need to be mentioned here: 1) Tarini was fine with having Gujarati food at his employer's residence in the original story, 2) The depiction of Durga Puja in the film is the worst I've ever seen). Had expected some good stories (either original or adapted from Ray's other works) presented in animated form as Tarini attempts to put his employer to sleep - got a couple of poorly "spun" headless/tailless ideas instead. The overall pacing is painfully drab, with more focus on the mundane and minimal efforts to make things interesting for the viewer. Even the conflict and the resolution seemed lacklustre. Tarini's ultimate self-discovery after overcoming self-doubt felt like a consolation prize for sitting through the film.

Pros? A few witty lines here and there and the closing scene. The music too, I guess - Tagore and Ray never fail.

"The Storyteller" is a prime example of how bad filmmakers ruin good stories despite having great actors on board. Let's just leave it at that.

The Storyteller is a heartfelt ode to storytelling, earning a 7.5/10 for its charm and performances, though its slow pace may not grip everyone.

Adapted from Satyajit Ray's Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro, this Hindi drama follows Tarini (Paresh Rawal), a Kolkata storyteller hired by insomniac businessman Ratan Garodia (Adil Hussain) to narrate bedtime tales.

The story weaves a clash of artistry versus commercialism, with a clever twist exposing plagiarism and self-discovery. Ananth Mahadevan's direction captures Kolkata and Ahmedabad's soul, with Alphonse Roy's cinematography painting vivid locales. The script, by Kireet Khurana, sparkles with wit but meanders, stretching a lean narrative with an unhurried pace that may test some viewers.

Rawal is magnetic, embodying Tarini's eccentric charm, while Hussain's nuanced Garodia balances insecurity and ambition. Revathy and Tannishtha Chatterjee shine in brief roles, though some subplots feel underexplored. The evocative score, weaving Tagore's melodies, elevates the mood.

The Storyteller is a poignant, well-acted tribute to Ray, best for patient cinephiles craving thoughtful drama, but a tighter edit could've pushed it higher.

I hvnt read the original story but have read many other stories. Film captures the simplistic vibe of his stories.

Paresh rawal is retired from his day job, and is a passionate storyteller. With wife gone and son in US, he is alone, and takes a job of a storyteller in gujrat.

Wont put spoilers but what happens next is good, though bit predictive in the beginning but the climax was food for me. I liked the way it ended. There are things i want to say but thay may act as spoiler.

In the end, everyone wants to be a good storyteller. But only few are inherently good at it. One thing which i felt missing was maybe, rawals character may have told more stories, that wudve added more flavour to the film.

Those unfamiliar with Bengali culture, who haven't read the original story or heard it on "Sunday Suspense" (Mirchi Bangla), might enjoy it. But for someone like me, born and raised in West Bengal, deeply connected to Bengali culture, it's disappointing.

The extreme typecasting and stereotyping of Bengalis, along with the complete distortion of the iconic "Tarini Khuro" character, make it unwatchable. Tarini Khuro was originally an unmarried man who spent his younger years traveling across India and working in countless jobs. In retirement, he preferred the company of children over people his own age, sharing his adventures as stories. But here, they turned him into a married man with kids, showing him as a bit lonely and disconnected from his children, totally contradicting the original essence of the character.

The portrayal of Bengalis was equally frustrating, cutting "sandesh" instead of cake for a birthday, haggling over "ilish maach" prices, and that horribly fake Bengali accent were just unbearable. Paresh Rawal is a phenomenal actor, and I deeply respect his talent, but this role demanded a Bengali actor. Someone like Sabyasachi Chakraborty or Saswata Chatterjee would have done full justice to the character.

This movie is based on a short story by Satyajit Ray - Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro (Storyteller Tarini Uncle). Shot in the lanes of Calcutta and Ahmedabad by director Anant Mahadevan who has chosen actual surroundings and not green screens, thankfully.

Paresh Rawal plays a middle-class Bengali who has just retired from a publishing house. To keep himself occupied he takes up a job as a storyteller to a prosperous Gujarati cotton businessman (Adil Hussain). He's hired as a storyteller by the businessman to overcome his insomnia.

The story is wonderful as it is written by a master storyteller. Only Ray could have conceived a plot as innovative and intriguing as this.

If one reads the original short story one would hardly find enough material to make a full-length feature film out of it. Credit for this goes to the principal screenplay writer Kireet Khurana. It blends the magic of storytelling with humour and social insights making it a heartfelt tribute to Ray's legacy. It's a pause in time and a departure from the mundane, pacy lives we live.

Despite the positives I just can't understand our obsession for mimicking accents. Either get into the character with in-depth understanding of nuances, mannerisms and accent (like Irrfan Khan in The Namesake), else just speak in normal Hindi.

Why does Tarini keep dropping a few words in Bengali at times and otherwise speak in Hindi with his friends and family. Also Garodia chooses to speak a few words or phrases in Gujarati. But chats with his man Friday in Hindi, and addresses a gathering of Gujaratis in Hindi. Don't get me wrong, both Paresh Rawal and Adil Hussain are terrific performers and I respect their talents. But this sticks out as a sore thumb despite having great actors.