The Storyteller

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.

The Film is good not Great. The theme is good. The story is wonderful as it is written by a master himself the Great Satyajit Ray. HIt is an ordinary film lacking the magic of great director.

My view is that Paresh Rawal would have been great in Adil Hussain's role and the Tarini's role could have been played by Saswata Chatterjee or Rajatava Dutta...they could have atleast justified the role.... the language problem was clearly seen as the poor choice of director. Unfortunately that is how it is.... A fantastic story sopiled by the wrong choices and understanding of a very ordinary director.

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.

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.

"Good artists copy, great artists steal!" But what happens when a plagiarist meets his match? "Nakkal main bhi Akkal chahiye" (Even a copycat needs brains :-)) takes center stage in this gripping tale of storytelling.

Based on Satyajit Ray's iconic story 'Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro', the film masterfully weaves a narrative around Tarini Bandhopadhay, a retired storyteller and Ratan Garodia, a businessman-turned-storywriter struggling with insomnia. As Tarini spins his bedtime stories, essential questions about ownership and authorship arise.

Paresh Rawal shines as the charismatic storyteller, while Adil Hussain brings depth and nuance to his character. Their undeniable chemistry elevates the film to new heights. While the pacing may be slow and some sequences repetitive, the movie's offbeat charm and thought-provoking themes make it a compelling watch. As the story unfolds, as I did, you too may find questioning your stance on plagiarism and empathizing with the plagiarist.

Masterfully directed by Ananth Mahadevan. With outstanding performances and a gripping narrative, it is a great watch.