Shotyi Bole Shotyi Kichhu Nei

It's hard to imagine any remake or adaptation rivaling the seminal courtroom classic "12 Angry Men," yet here I am, witnessing something that manages to build on Sidney Lumet's vision and take it to new heights.

Admittedly, my bias may show since the film is in my native language, but there are certain nuances and a unique expression of emotions that only the language of Tagore can capture, and which Shakespeare's language simply cannot.

The stellar cast of actors were equally enthralling though felt underutilized at times, delivering powerful performances to bring Srijit's vision to life. In the poignant words of Parambrata, "Amar jonyo oke keno shasti dicho" beautifully illustrated the cognitive and confirmation biases inherent within the characters in this movie, highlighting how our past experiences biases us towards our present judgments.

In conclusion, it was a pleasure to witness Bangla film-lore leapfrogging back to its Heydays through the lens of this future 'El-Classico'. A masterpiece on jurisprudence.

Lets break it out.

Pros- 1. Cinematography was quiet good it's has a very beautiful style of shooting that never happened before in tollywood.

2. The whole zodiac was quite accurate as in 12 signs with their personality.

3. Acting was good from every actor as you can expect from srijit's movie 4. This version of 12 angry men gave the charector more saturation.

So 4 starts. Now why not 6 stars.

Now cons- 1. The just use orenge and tile combo for color tuning. Feels very forced and kind of cheap shortcut for visual.

2. When you give a straight man to act as a gay they will do very over saturated hermaphrodite acting and that definitely the case. Every actor did a good job but still feels like their were more potential with the script and actor that left unused.

3. The overall commercial approach on the dialogues. No depth in the dialogue just slang. Yes though I found those slangs unfunny unnecessary comic releaves many was laughing at it.

4. No charactor growth for any charactor thought all the charectors' debate were in mind but it would be nice to see.

Don't go to cinema hall to watch this. Wait for hoichoi.

This is a bold and imaginative adaptation that stands out for its presentation, creating a surreal and visually striking experience. The film's screenplay and plot have also been thoughtfully adapted to reflect West Bengal's socio-cultural scenario, grounding the story in a local context that adds authenticity and relevance. The cinematography and background score are strong aspects of the film, helping to create a compelling atmosphere. The visuals are thoughtfully composed, and the music supports the tone of the narrative well. The film maintains a unique tone throughout, staying true to its vision.

However, while the concept is fresh and the presentation ambitious, the execution isn't without flaws. The direction and screenplay are the film's biggest weakness, suffering from overlapping, unnecessary, and at times clichéd dialogue. This affects the overall engagement and flow. Additionally, some of the performances feel unconvincing and forced, suggesting that a few casting choices may not have been the best fit for their roles.

Despite these shortcomings, Shotyi Bole Shotyi Kichhu Nei deserves credit for trying something unique. It may not be perfect, but it offers a unique cinematic experience that's worth watching for its creativity and visual storytelling.

Srijit Mukherji's "Shotti Bole Shotti Kichu Nei" boldly reimagines Sidney Lumet's iconic 12 Angry Men & it's indian adaptation "Ek Ruka Hua Faisla" , blending Bengali sensibilities with contemporary relevance. By transporting the story to the realm of a judge's subconscious, Srijit circumvents the constraints of stage-like storytelling, transforming the courtroom into a dynamic dreamscape-sometimes set in theaters, jungles, or crashing seashores. This clever artistic liberty infuses the film with visual grandeur while remaining deeply rooted in the philosophical core of justice and morality. This movie gave that level of goosebumps & flavours of Srijit's initial films like "Baishe Srabon", "Chotushkone", "Hemlock Society" etc.

The screenplay impressively marries timeless themes with modern socio-political commentary. From the rise of Hindutva ideology to racial and linguistic biases, the film reflects the prejudices haunting present-day society. Through sharp dialogues and vivid character sketches, it delves into the personal histories that shape individual ideologies, making its characters hauntingly real.

Parambrata Chatterjee delivers one of his finest performances as a marginalized figure whose layered portrayal lingers long after the credits roll. Anirban Chakraborty, as an outsider battling his linguistic and cultural insecurities, also leaves an indelible mark. While stalwarts like Kaushik Ganguly and Kaushik Sen stay within familiar territories, the ensemble cast complements each other beautifully, creating a symphony of conflict and introspection.

The film's art direction, from zodiac-themed chairs to striking cinematography by Prosenjit Chowdhury, elevates the narrative into a visually poetic experience. The unexpected inclusion of Bengali Baul music adds cultural depth, making the dream sequences richer and more resonant.

Finally, Shotti Bole Shotti Kichu Nei is a cinematic feast-intellectually stimulating, emotionally stirring, and aesthetically vibrant. Srijit serves up a layered, buttery dish of storytelling-rich in flavor and surprisingly easy to digest. A bold experiment that reminds us why the courtroom of human conscience is timeless.

I don't remember writing a detailed film review in IMDb, but this film deserves one due to two primary reasons: 1. This is the best film of Srijit Mukherji that I've seen in theatres.

2. This is the comeback of this extremely talented filmmaker that as fans, we had all been waiting for.

When it was first announced that Srijit Mukherji was going to adapt '12 Angry Men' in Bangla, I was very skeptical, given SM's track record over the last few years ('Padatik' was very good, and 'Tekka' too I liked). This was serious business. Adapting one of the greatest films of all time is a risky proposition. I didn't find the teaser or the trailer very unique, but the film convinced me to become a fan of SM once again.

Positives: 1. The performances: I would be doing the film a disservice if I didn't start with performances. EVERY SINGLE ACTOR WAS BRILLIANT! I don't want to take individual names here, because then I have to write all the 12 names, which is, frankly speaking, unnecessary. Every single one of them perfectly understood the tone and pitch of their individual characters and performed to perfection.

2. The screenplay: This has been one of my recurring complaints regarding SM's recent films (barring 'Padatik'). This film has a runtime of 2 hours and 7 mins with an absolutely tight screenplay. Not a single scene feels boring or unnecessary while giving every single character space. That's a tough balance to strike with a multi-starrer like this.

3. The cinematography: Every single scene is shot beautifully. There are a few location changes, and those have a reason (won't reveal that here because that would be a spoiler). The frames are pretty good and the camerawork, especially at two points at the end of the film, is superb.

4. The dialogues: SM's films always have good dialogues, and here every single character has got some great lines. The humor, especially in the first half, is unexpected, and it really works.

5. The music: The film has two songs, both placed impeccably in the film.

6. The overall concept of integrating the jury: As we know, the jury system has been abolished in India a long time ago, but the technique that has been used to integrate that in this film, I found that to be pretty ingenious.

7. The easter eggs: A scene showing 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla' being performed on stage, small references to a few of SM's previous films, and a beautiful Tenida reference were beautifully integrated with the screenplay.

Negatives: 1. This film has one major negative point for me, which is actually a little important with respect to the screenplay, but it is a problem that cannot be really helped. The backstories of a number of characters have been shown here. Although that does provide context behind the reasoning of these characters, it also somewhat takes away the shock element of every revelation and decreases the overall philosophical impact of the film. It feels a little predictable, that is all.

2. At certain points in the film, it feels like the reasoning of quite a few characters is forced, that is, they already have doubts, but still are doggedly sticking to their original decision, which feels a little unrealistic at times.

Overall, I have to say, this is Sijjidda's true comeback. I was mighty impressed by the film and the scenes are still etched in my brain. I hope he continues this streak and keeps making films of this, or an even higher level.

9/10.