Yours Truly, Srikanta

Srikanta is a man torn between two women: the beautiful and enigmatic Kamallata and the seductive courtesan Rajalakshmi. Through this exciting inner drama of the main character, the film explores the universal theme of the eternal search for love and truth. But it also confronts the issues of secularism in India in the face of rigid dogmas and religious fanaticism. In this respect, the film is very relevant today, even if it is based on a 1917 novel written by the famous Bengali Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876-1938), who also penned the classic novel Devdas. The dilemma of Srikanta, who wishes to break away from ordinary life and become totally free, stands as a metaphor for everyone who tries to oppose conventions in society and search for inner peace by liberating himself from all kinds of bondage. Yours Truly, Srikanta subtly unfolds at a pace that perfectly matches the poetic images of timeless India: the Vaishnavi religious retreat where Srikanta meets Kamallata, and the village where he encounters his childhood friend Gauha, a Muslim who keeps a close relationship with the Hindus. Anjan Das’ powerful ability to portray intimacy between people, as well as the magical camera of Sirsha Roy and the music of Bikkram Ghosh, keep the audience in a kind of trance until the very end. (RS)