The Storyteller

The Storyteller (2025) : Movie Review -

I believe there is a different kind of magic in Ananth Mahadevan's storytelling, even though I am not particularly familiar with all his works. I am a huge fan of his storytelling in "Me Sindhutai Sapkal." Besides being a great motivational biopic, it possesses a unique magic due to Mahadevan's sincerity towards the narrative. He repeats that same magic with "The Storyteller," which is not as powerful or motivational as the aforementioned biopic because it's not real, but still has enough merits to earn a place on your watchlist.

The Storyteller is based on Satyajit Ray's short, "Golpo Bolo Tarini Khuro," which tells the story of a storyteller and a listener. I would have enjoyed the film more in the '80s than I did today because it has a "dated" quality attached to it. Nonetheless, it's interesting enough to be worth two hours of your life. Tarini Bandopadhyay (Paresh Rawal) is hired as a storyteller by a wealthy businessman, Garodia (Adil Hussain). Tarini is afraid of writing his own stories due to a fear complex, criticism, and so on, but he is exceptionally good at telling stories. Garodia suffers from insomnia, which is why he seeks Tarini's help. The two form a strong friendship, but what happens when they realize it was all a deception?

The Storyteller addresses many themes such as jealousy, success, fear, deception, and manipulation, yet never forces any of these elements to take hold of the entire narrative. This feels authentic, even with a fine twist toward the end that is more suitable for a thriller than this dramatic tale. Some of the dialogues are poignant and metaphorical. "Saraswati Laxmi se keh rahi ki Durga interesting hai." I mean, WOW! Even "WOW" is an understatement here. "Good artists copy; great artists steal" - Picasso, and that silence lingers awkwardly. In one scene, Tarini explains the meaning of his name and compares it to Durga, Mahishasurmardini, which seemed abruptly aggressive at that moment. However, it is only later revealed why he was acting aggressively then. The way elements are planned and woven into the screenplay is what makes this simple story capture the viewers' attention.

This is a performance-driven film, and thankfully we have two solid actors in the lead roles and a good supporting cast. Paresh Rawal, being a Gujju, plays a Bengali man who loves fish and then becomes half Gujarati temporarily. Such a fine way to explore the character's arc. Adil Hussain has done a fantastic job as half protagonist and half antagonist here. Revathy appears in a cameo role, but she plays a very important part. Tannistha Chatterjee is the most naturally attractive and intelligent librarian I have seen in a Hindi movie in recent times. The rest of the supporting cast adds excellent support and earns this casting unit a thumbs up all the way.

The Storyteller suffers from a strong human conflict that could have added a solid dramatic element to it. The way Tarini and Garodia switch their moods and attitudes was too ordinary to experience. I never really could find out that one particular thing which made those characters change their minds and take a 180-degree shift. That's one fault in the writing that lets this film down. Rest assured, it's a proper cinematic experience in a niche genre that also has powerful support from the technical aspects like background score, cinematography, and editing. Ananth Mahadevan could have worked better on the story, but his storytelling is just too good to point a finger at. Overall, a subtle film with a dated story, but it is worthy enough.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

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.

"The only solutions that are ever worth anything are the solutions that people find themselves"- Satyajit Ray.

The Storyteller (2025) is a thoughtfully made film inspired by Satyajit Ray's short story Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro. It brings to life the fascinating character of Tarini Khuro, an eccentric and sharp-witted storyteller created by Ray.

Directed by Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, the film features a stellar cast, including Paresh Rawal, Adil Hussain, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and Revathi. Staying true to Ray's signature style, it blends humor, social insight, and the magic of storytelling, making it a heartfelt tribute to his legacy.

Paresh Rawal delivers a brilliant performance as Tarini Khuro, effortlessly bringing charm and depth to the character. Adil Hussain also does a commendable job, adding weight to the narrative, while Revathi's cameo brings an extra touch of magic to the film. Abhinandan to the entire cast for their outstanding performances!

Ray's Tarini Khuro stories were known for their mix of mystery, wit, and intellect, and The Storyteller does a commendable job of capturing that spirit on screen.

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.

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.