Film on interplay of forbidden love & politics in Jangal Mahal in race at fest
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Kolkata: 'My Comrade', a short film competing at the 8th South Asian Film Festival, is the only entry, which is set against the backdrop of armed rebellion in Jangal Mahal.
The film explores a tribal youth's forbidden love, sexual awakening and solidarity for a wounded armed rebel and the choice a woman has to make after cops appeal to reveal the activist's identity in exchange for money.
Cinema from Bengal has seen sporadic attempts at exploring the armed-rebellion theme. But this is perhaps the first time a director has woven themes of sexual awakening and gender fluidity in such a backdrop. Tathagata Ghosh's 25-minute fiction film, featuring Sounak Kundu, Aratrick Bhadra and Adrija Majumder, showcases cinematography by Tuhin Saha, background music by Nabarun Bose, editing and grading by Amir Mondal, sound design by Sugoto Basu and mixing by Anindit Roy.
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Ghosh spent the past two years in the forested lands of Bengal, where armed conflict unfolded in the early 2000s. "I spoke with many tribal people who had lived through the rebellion. What struck me most was how their personal desires and choices often took a back seat to the sheer struggle for survival. Who they loved and how they saw themselves were often overshadowed by the politics of resistance and control," he said.
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Inspired, Ghosh placed a character, navigating gender fluidity in a volatile space. "It exposed how politics tries to box identities and how liberation can mean different things for different people. For some, freedom is about land, justice or power. For others, it's the ability to live in one's skin without fear," he added.
What adds layers is the emotion of the woman romantically inclined towards the tribal youth.
The director intentionally keeps viewers guessing if she is his spouse or love interest. The interpretation of her final choice varies, depending on her place in his life. The spouse of a bisexual man, who has a sexual awakening, might have a different reaction from someone, romantically inclined towards a man only to confront his homosexual identity.
"I wanted to portray her quiet emotional storm. Her desire, confusion and hurt exist with a deep sense of helplessness and empathy. For me, the woman represents the emotional cost of love in uncertain times, where nothing, not even identity, is fixed. Writing her character meant holding space for someone who doesn't get clear answers, but still has to make a choice," the director said.
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