Nadharer Bhela: A Slow Story That Stays With You

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Nadharer Bhela is not a film to delight you in a rush. It is a story about people and their loneliness, hope, and humanity or lack of humanity — told slowly over an agonisingly long period of time. It deals with exploitation, dreams and how frequently people are sucked into their surroundings. He is an easy target for abuse rather than care, due to his disability. It just goes to show how little patience and empathy we show each other these days, a reminder of the harsh realities of his daily life.

The story is set in a village of Nadia, and the modern age has only penetrated halfway there.

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The narrative is about Nadhar, a man who is so unwell that his movements are painfully slow. He doesn’t belong to the world where everyone is always in a rush. The village itself is like a character in the story. Life looks simple there on the surface but behind the surface everyone is carrying his own disappointments and problems.

One sight that stuck with me is of a funeral going on while people are having fun at the circus right next door. On one side lies death and silence and on the other is loud music and fun. The contrast is strong and makes you think about life and death side by side.

At home, at work, Nadhar is always being used by the people around him. His infirmity becomes something that others want to profit from. The circus has its own difficulties for the women too. Shyama wants to be an actress but Haru, the circus owner is only interested in himself and prevents her goal. Nadhar is the only one who doesn’t see her in lust but with respect, and that small distinction means a lot.

The relations between the circus performers are intricate. They often think first of their own survival, but there are also times of caring for each other. They’re not perfect people but they’re not entirely inhuman either.

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The cinematography is excellent throughout the movie. The dazzling circus lights are a great contrast to the somber emotional parts, making the story much more powerful. I liked the way the community is portrayed in a genuine manner and not glamorized.

One of the biggest strengths of the picture is the performances. Amit Saha goes into the role of Nadhar. Even with the minimal amount of talking he may do, his facial expressions alone inform you all you need to know. Priyanka Sarkar as Shyama, who is a beauty indeed, has also the strength and sensitivity to her role. Wartnik: 8 the idea of Haru, which is a hard to love characer, is an other solid performance by spy family star Ritwick Chakraborty.

My only complaint was the length. At nearly three hours long, several moments dragged a little more than they had to. I understood what the director meant to express but the film could have been more interesting with tighter cutting without losing its emotional impact.

Nadharer Bhela is an honest Bengali film, which, throughout its entirety, keeps faithful to its roots. It is honest in telling a simple story and provides us characters who seem real. It might not be for everyone due of it's slow pace but if you want important movies that make you think about life then this is one you should watch.