Half Serious Bengali Movie
The society is filled with its own ups and downs and its own good and bad. Whenever its time to bring into spotlight the nuances of society, either it is done with too much seriousness or the subject falls flat without making much sense. Debutant director Utsav Mukherjee adapts the path of humor to bring out the atrocities of society to the forefront.
The narrative of Half Serious travels between heaven and earth and the comic setup binds these two platforms with extreme precision. Aniruddha (Shilajeet) is an ambitious struggling filmmaker, who is working on a film script to bring out the problems, that women today face in the society. The Gods and Goddesses are also not happy with the present scenario and are running their own investigations to understand the situation. Aniruddha is the elder son of the Dutta family, whose own family has also succumbed to the problems of the society as a whole.
The comical relief in the film helps director Utsav Mukherjee in breaking through with his script. Dialogue at times has a very poetic impact and is bound to remind one of Anik Dutta's Bhooter Bhobishyot. Mukherjee himself has also thanked him in the beginning of the film as his inspiration. A screen full of talented actors makes Mukherjee quite a winner and helps him register the win quite well.
A tactful non linear narrative, war of the two worlds and the adverse reality make for a good watch. Aniruddha's script and his own position and perspective within the society unfold through the film. It is through him and his failed script that Half serious builds up its own narrative platform.
Veteran actors Paran Bandhopadhay, Kharaj Mukhopadhay and Shankar Chakraborty in the role of Gods are brilliant and set the perfect comic ambience. Saheb Bhattacharya deserves a special mention for his perfect acting skills.
To conclude, director Utsav Mukherjee's debut film Half serious is colorful, appealing and stands out in its own comical glory. A serious must watch of Half serious is bound to awaken our nascent thoughts towards society.
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