Dawshom Awbotaar

"Dasham Avatar," Srijit Mukherji's 2023 Bengali thriller, arrived with a significant weight of expectation, not least because it promised to unite two of his most iconic police characters: Probir Roy Chowdhury (Prosenjit Chatterjee) from "Baishey Srabon" and Bijoy Poddar (Anirban Bhattacharya) from "Vinci Da." This "cop multiverse" concept, while exciting on paper, ultimately proved to be both the film's greatest draw and its most significant challenge.

The premise is immediately intriguing: a serial killer terrorizes Kolkata, with each murder meticulously staged to mirror the ten avatars of Vishnu. This mythological underpinning provides a fertile ground for a dark, intellectual thriller, and Mukherji, known for his intricate plotting, certainly starts strong. The initial acts are a testament to his directorial prowess, skillfully building suspense and introducing the compelling dynamic between the seasoned, often cynical Probir and the sharp, unconventional Poddar. Their camaraderie, a blend of witty banter and professional respect, is a definite highlight, carrying much of the film's early momentum. Prosenjit Chatterjee, reprising his role after over a decade, slips back into Probir's skin with effortless charm, while Anirban Bhattacharya continues to impress as the quirky Poddar.

Cinematographically, "Dasham Avatar" is a triumph. Soumik Halder's lens paints a vivid and often haunting portrait of Kolkata's underbelly - its labyrinthine alleys, bustling streets, and the interplay of light and shadow, all contributing to an immersive and atmospheric viewing experience. The visual storytelling elevates the film beyond its narrative shortcomings, showcasing a city that is as much a character as the protagonists. The meticulously staged murders, with their mythological connections, are visually striking and contribute to the film's chilling aesthetic.

However, where "Dasham Avatar" truly falters is in its execution, particularly in its third act. The film's ambitious narrative, initially so promising, begins to unravel, leading to a conclusion that many critics found rushed, incomplete, and unsatisfying. The intricate build-up of suspense and investigation gives way to a hasty climax, leaving viewers with unresolved questions and a lingering sense of unexplored potential. This abrupt ending significantly undercuts the film's impact and prevents it from reaching the heights of Mukherji's earlier thrillers like "Baishey Srabon" or "Chotushkone." The attempt to replicate the narrative twists of "Baishey Srabon" feels half-baked and out of place, ultimately diminishing the overall experience.

Moreover, the integration of the "cop multiverse" isn't entirely seamless. While the pairing of Probir and Poddar is enjoyable, the necessity of linking "Vinci Da" feels somewhat forced, with critics noting a lack of genuine connection or justification for Anirban Bhattacharya's character to be Poddar from that specific film. It often feels like a deliberate attempt to capitalize on past successes rather than a natural progression of a shared universe. Certain directorial choices, such as an overreliance on slow-motion sequences during confrontational scenes, also drew criticism for being gimmicky and even nauseating in some instances.

Despite these flaws, "Dasham Avatar" is not without its merits. The performances from the lead actors, particularly Prosenjit Chatterjee and Anirban Bhattacharya, are commendable. Jisshu Sengupta, as the antagonist, also delivers a strong performance, both in and out of his disguises. The film's soundtrack, featuring contributions from Anupam Roy and Rupam Islam, adds another layer of emotional depth. The commitment to visual detail and the initial promise of its unique premise make it an engaging watch for a significant portion of its runtime.

In essence, "Dasham Avatar" is a film that shines brightly in its individual components - stellar cinematography, strong performances, and an intriguing concept - but ultimately struggles to coalesce into a cohesive and wholly satisfying whole. It's a cinematic endeavor that, while visually arresting and entertaining in parts, leaves a sense of untapped potential, falling short of the high standards set by its director's earlier works in the thriller genre.

Every great thing has to come to an end at some point. '22 Se Srabon' should have remained a standalone film. There was no need for the sequel, 'Dwitiyo Purush,' or the prequel, 'Dawshom Avatar.' It seems that 'Dawshom Avatar' was primarily created for profit by capitalizing on nostalgia. Unfortunately, the film fell short in many aspects, except for the songs and acting. The use of slang in the movie felt forced, and the action scenes were quite illogical. The script appeared underdeveloped, and the editing was subpar. This resulted in the film being quite tedious to watch. 'Dawshom Avatar' doesn't quite fit into the thriller or drama genre; it feels more like a money-making endeavor. It might be a good time for Srijit Mukherjee to take a break and return with a stronger, more thought-out script. If you find yourself with no other movie options during this festive season, you might be better off watching this movie in the theater to catch up on some rest. I wouldn't recommend this movie, even for an OTT platform.

The screenplay of the movie is very well crafted. But to attract the younger generation, it is not desirable to use excessive profanity. The camera work deserves praise at several places. The camera work deserves praise at several places.

The movie starts well but gradually loses its momentum due to being too long. And lost in Kanagli after the break. Those who watch the movie will understand the end of the movie before long. Very average quality movie. And no song except Rupam's song could make a mark in my mind.

Jaya's acting is very average. Such a powerful actor as jishu was not used properly.

The shared universe is a gimmick. This film can't be a prequel because it creates major loopholes for the other films in the franchise. If you consider that this Probir and Poddar aren't the same Probir and Poddar we have seen before and that this is an alternate take on their characters happening in some other timeline, then it's fine. Coming to the story, Srijit has mastered how to ruin a well-going thriller. A twist everyone saw a mile away coming, but major plotholes there too. Injustice done to Jisshu's character, whose character could've been one of the memorable villains or anti-heroes, is watered down to a forgettable generic villain or psychopath. Performance-wise, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Anirban were excellent and the only redeeming factors in this movie. The camaraderie is presented well. Jaya wasn't in her best form. Jisshu did fine with whatever was given to him. Cinematography and BGM are fine, but too much use of slow motion gets on the nerves. And the CGI at the end is laughable. Shout out to the editor for that crazy cut during the car chase scene, but again, overuse of slo-mo kind of ruined the whole scene.

Dasham Avatar movie is not as good as Baishe Shravan and dwitiyo purush movie (Baishe Shravan movie itself is a history of Bengali thriller cinema ) but it is much better than other Bengali suspense thriller movie. Story writing is very weak. Can Guess Villain Jesus Sengupta character needed better build up Prosenjit Chatterjee's Anirban BhattacharyaSlow motion effect in the entry scene which is very common in South movies would have been good if not but Prasenjit Chatterjee and Anirban Bhattacharya acting 100 100 Jaya Ahsan's acting was good but needed to be better this movie is ground and BGM is not good at all the good points of this movie are very catchy dialogueJesus Sengupta Anirban Chatterjee's acting and songs have a new meaning and This movie has a plot twist which is quite good.