Muktodhara is a 2012 Indian Bengali-language prison film directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. This is a story about the prisoners of a presidency correctional home, who all have a dark past life but here they are being reformed day by day.
Plot Niharika Chatterjee is the wife of public prosecutor Arindam Chatterjee. Arindam is a dominating husband and a male chauvinist. Niharika is unhappy with her married life. They both have a sweet little child who is deaf and dumb. Niharika organises a party for girls who are physically challenged like her own daughter. There, she meets the new Inspector General of correctional cells of West Bengal, Mr. Brij Narayan Dutta. The latter informs Niharika of his plans and ideas of reforming convicts of the correctional cells. Being aware of Niharika's talent and skills, he requests Niharika to help him organize an event with the prisoners. Niharika agrees to the proposal with a condition that her husband needs to be kept in the dark. One day, while they were having a rehearsal, Niharika wishes to stage Rabindranath Tagore's Valmiki-Pratibha involving the inmates of the correctional cells. Niharika informs Mr. Brij Narayan Dutta about it, who likes the idea and approves the proposal. In the cellular jail, Yusuf Mohammad is a very well-known criminal. He is accused of murder, kidnapping, et al. Mr. Brij Narayan Dutta wants him to be in the play. He succeeds in convincing Yusuf Mohammad. It is he who later becomes Niharika's main protagonist in the stage play. Yusuf Mohammad gradually changes as Niharika keeps training them. They plan to escape from the correctional home on the day of the play. But, the feeling of guilt engulfs Yusuf Mohammad and though they get out of the correctional home through a tunnel, they return and complete the play.
Cast
Production Nigel Akkara was a hardened criminal, who had resisted all attempts of reformation till a renowned dancer visited the Presidency Correctional Home and began a therapy session. Alokananda Ray decided to stage the dance drama, Valmiki Pratibha, by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The actors were selected from among jailbirds and Nigel played the lead role of dacoit Ratnakar, who transforms into sage Valmiki. That play transformed Nigel in real life. It also helped in opening new avenues for him following his release from prison in 2009 after serving a nine-year term. “I was mesmerized by the acceptance that I got after Valmiki Pratibha. Sometimes, looking at my past, I have wondered whether I deserve such love and affection,” said Nigel, who now owns a cleaning and security agency and employs several former convicts. Nigel's big break came when he got the chance to play the lead role opposite Rituparna Sengupta in Muktodhara.
Muktodhara is the first film in the history of Indian cinema to be made on culture therapy.
Soundtrack
Release and reception The film was screened at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after the then-president of India Pranab Mukherjee's wife wanted to watch the film. The The film was well received by critics.
A critic from The Telegraph wrote, "Muktodhara is a beautifully crafted film where all aspects of movie-making come togther as a homogenous entity. It’s a must, must-see film for the cineaste and commoner alike".
References
External links