Rabindra Kabya Rahasya
| Rabindra Kabya Rahasya | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sayantan Ghosal |
| Written by | Sougato Basu |
| Produced by | Eskay Movies |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Tuban |
| Music by | Debojyoti Mishra |
Production company | Eskay Movies |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali |
Rabindra Kabya Rahasya (lit. 'The Mystery of Rabindra's Poetry') is a 2025 Indian Bengali-language thriller directed by Sayantan Ghosal. The film investigates a conspiracy spanning a century, linking Rabindranath Tagore's legacy to forged manuscripts and politically charged accusations, including claims that Tagore opposed Indian independence.[1]
Plot
[edit]In 1923 London, poet Ekalavya Sen is murdered after his unpublished works are plagiarized by rivals seeking to undermine Tagore’s literary reputation. A century later, crime writer Abhik Bose (Ritwick Chakraborty) and Rabindra Sangeet researcher Hiya Sen (Srabanti Chatterjee) uncover cryptic clues in Tagore’s poetry, exposing a conspiracy to tarnish his legacy with fabricated claims about his political loyalties.[2] The investigation leads to a serial-killing case in London, where Hiya’s potential connection to the murders becomes pivotal.[3]
Cast
[edit]- Ritwick Chakraborty as Abhik Bose
- Srabanti Chatterjee as Hiya Sen
- Priyanshu Chatterjee as Rabindranath Tagore
- Rajnandini Paul as a key conspirator[1]
- Rwitobroto Mukherjee as young Tagore[4]
Production
[edit]Development and Casting
[edit]Ghosal envisioned the film as a "cultural thriller," blending historical fiction with suspense. Priyanshu Chatterjee was cast as Tagore after makeup artist Azad recommended him for his symbolic portrayal of icons like Satyajit Ray in prior projects.[5] Ritwick Chakraborty and Srabanti Chatterjee were chosen for their chemistry in prior thrillers, with Srabanti training in Rabindra Sangeet for authenticity.[6]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography began in June 2022 in London, with scenes shot at locations Tagore visited during his 1912–1913 stay. Six makeup designs were created for Priyanshu to depict Tagore from ages 29 to 79.[5]
Release
[edit]The film premiered at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on 21 November 2023.[7]A motion poster released in November 2024 featured Tagore’s image with the line, “A Rabindra-devotee poet and his tale of revenge,” alongside a blood-stained knife.[1] Despite a nomination for UNESCO’s Gandhi Medal, it lost to the Franco-Greek film Drift.[8][9]
Reception
[edit]The IFFI premiere sparked debates over its speculative portrayal of Tagore’s political views, with scholars criticizing creative liberties.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর নাকি আমাদের দেশের স্বাধীনতা চাননি?". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Rabindra Kabya Rahasya". IMDb. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Firstlook of Rabindra Kabya Rahasya". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 10 May 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Rabindra Kabya Rahasya - reviews". good.film. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ a b Acharya, Anindita (17 November 2023). "'Had it been a biopic on Tagore, I wouldn't have accepted it'". Millennium Post. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Priyanshu, Ritwick, Srabanti in Sayantan's crime thriller". The Times of India. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "An ode to the mystical realms of Tagore's poetry, 'Rabindra Kabya Rahasya' aims to undo the attempts to paint Tagore as an antagonist: Producer Himanshu Dhanuka". Press Information Bureau. Goa: Government of India. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Eskay Movies to release 18 Bengali films in 2025". The Telegraph India. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "Three films from India among 10 vying for Unesco Gandhi Medal". The Times of India. 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Making a film on Tagore is a big risk". WION. Retrieved 28 April 2025.