I watched a regional (Bengali) film yesterday and it compelled me to write down my feelings about the same. The film’s name is Autograph and the name itself signifies that the film describes the reel world. Just like all artists scribble autographs for fans and engrave their presence in our hearts, this film etches the complete traits of each character and indeed reveals the individual they are. This is like a reflection of each character encompassing the plot of the film. Hence the film was named Autograph.
The protagonist of the film is Arun Chatterjee who is a leading actor and not finding enough opportunities in the industry so he is mostly seen in budget films which have moderate reviews at box-office and the target audience is also all and sundry and those films really don’t touch any of the intellectual strings of the mass.
Shuvo is an aspiring director who has left his job for giving shape to his dream. The only achievement he possesses is a directorial debut with a documentary. He has a script handy which is inspired by the famous Bengali film Nayak by Satyajit Ray (Oscar Winner) and by another piece of work called Wild Strawberries. He has a girlfriend who is living his dream and is helping him with all means.
Her name is Srinandita and she has been with Shuvo since college. She lives in with him and also agrees for playing the lead female in the film without any prior experience of the silver-screen.
The film begins with Arun Chatterjee being criticized by people as an actor of the bygone era so he deliberately needs a good script to showcase the real actor in him. He decides to give Shuvo a break and also gives him the liberty to cast other actors and vehemently decides to produce the film. The situation is such that if the film works then Arun, Shuvo and Srinandita all rise together or they stay where they are. Shuvo suddenly turns maverick and becomes obsessed with ambition. All he wants is success and for that he is also ready to gulp down the growing intimacy between his lady love Srinandita (also female lead in his film) and Arun Chatterjee. One day while Shuvo was away Srinandita was busy with her daily play rehearsals in front of the Handy-Cam when Arun arrives drunk and makes some heartfelt confessions of his guilt in front of her. She consoles him by saying that a mistake is humane but only a good human being would accept it. Shuvo takes a glance at the recorded piece and promises Srinandita that he would never disclose it. While the film was almost done Shuvo was busy with some post production work but also in search of making his film big. The only possible way of doing so was to create some controversy about Arun Chatterjee with the recording and that’s exactly what he does. When Srinandita comes to know of it she initially doesn’t believe his words and keeps on asking him about the same. When she is sure she decides to annihilate everything and go off to the hills of Darjeeling to find solace. Arun Chatterjee comes to know of it and summons Shuvo. Shuvo tells him that it is just a publicity stunt to make the film big. Arun Chatterjee tells him that he had been signing low-budget films for money lately and sacrificed on his artistic self for a living but had never sold his soul. So any attack on his principles and values would never be entertained and so he scraps the film. Shuvo also mentions that Srinandita was not involved in any of the controversies and she had also left for the unknown after the mess. Arun feels sorry for her and develops immense respect for her as well. After Shuvo’s dream script gets scrapped he starts afresh by approaching a leading commercial film producer but now he is a changed man who has given up all and wants to live his dream of making his presence in the reel world at any cost.
On the whole I loved the script but there are some questions which came to mind regarding the characters. If Shuvo was so obsessed with his ambition, would it be possible that Srinandita in so many years could never gauge his desperation for success? If Shuvo was not such a human being then would it be possible for him to change over-night into a person devoid of feelings and morals.
Srinandita emerges as a very idealistic individual being loyal to all relationships in her life but she disappears in the end when all relationships and situations are messed up. If a person is high on principles then why would he/she escape from such a situation? It would have been better if she had stood up and exerted her take on the situation.
Arun Chatterjee seemed reasonable by not allowing the film to release but what happens to him in the end? What happens to his career or is it assumed that he will continue with the moderate box-office releases for a living and find soulful pleasure in the fact that he is not compromising on his ideals? Or will he have a big hit which will bring glory to his dilapidated artistic soul?
The film’s conclusion could have been a little more concise and comprehensive. It expects the viewers to have conclusions in their own way. A better end would have been able to convey the message of the film in a better way and acquaint the viewers to something more enlightening and tangible.
