Shubho Mahurat

In the current era of Bengali cinema, where often the average wit required to endure a 3 hour torture is less than a 3 year old's, this Rituporno whodunit comes as a fragrant zephyr. In fact, unlike some other critically acclaimed movies made by Rituporno (like Raincoat), this one is well-paced, and holds the audience till the very end.

Granted it is taken from the Miss Marple story 'The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side'. But for someone who has NOT read Agatha Christie to a great extent, this will truly be worth the ticket. Again, for the ones like us, who have been die-hard Christie fans since our teens, we should know pretty well how difficult it is to make a screenplay out of a Christie novel. Simple b'cos her stories have the psychological treatment much more than actual actions. This is where Rituporno excels. He has got a fantastic script, acted out by brilliant actors, and what we get in the end is a true treat.

A very good Bengali film after a L-O-N-G time.

This day and age? Difficult to see why a novel that formed the basis for a popular (if not very good) American film in the 1980s and an excellent British television adaptation in the nineties should somehow have become so antiquated in 2003. Agatha Christie novels never work terribly well as whodunnits in film versions since it is almost impossible to duplicate in a film the devices she uses so superbly to fool readers in her novels. What Rituparno Ghosh has done is something very clever indeed. He has rewritten the piece so that in effect the whodunnit elements become less important and the psychological elements of the story (never a particular strongpoint with Christie) are much enhanced. The adaptation to an Indian situation is extremely adroit and all in all this is quite the best film (as opposed to television) adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel that I have ever seen (and I think one way or the other I have seen most of them).

Adaptation of Christie's 'The Mirror Crack's from Side to Side'. Adapted so well in the backdrop of making of a film with a ageing star and how it can get messed up to every level, that I never believed it was a Christie story until we read the actual one in translation. The features Sharmila Tagore and Rakhee sharing screen after 30-40 years when they were in the peak of their sexy careers. Also, real cameos by Goutam Ghose, Madhabi Mukherjee, Soumitra Chatterjee, Subhendu Chatterjee and Abhijit Guha. I have a sweet tooth for detective stories, but this one actually counters all the the then tropes about those and breaks the ongoing filmgasm of Feluda and Byomkesh being made every year.

Shuvo Maharat is a murder mystery film by Rituporno Ghosh. A film so well adapted from Agatha Christie's novel, I wouldn't believe without watching.

Rituporno just proved that he can make a successful movie of any kind. In this movie, we see prominent female stars Sharmila Tagore, Rakhi Gulzar who once ruled Bollywood. We see young Nandita Das, who became prominent later. Also loved Anindo Chatterjee's calm performance. And of course Tota Roy Chowdhury's acting too. Such a gala of stars and a mystery well blended- please watch this rare Bangla murder mystery and make your weekend watch a worth!

Although the plot is somewhat predicable, this movie was surely very riveting till the very last minute. Packed with Indian star actresses like Sharmila Tagore and Nandita Das, there was never any lack of suspense.

On the down side, I think the story was adopted from one of Agatha Christie novels, however it was not mentioned except the movie was dedicated to one of her creations, Miss Marple.

It is not easy to convert this foreign theme in Bengali and Rituparno Ghosh has done an excellent job. I would call it one of the best Bengali detective films.