The Journey

Renowned Bengali director and cameraman Ghose takes us on a journey at two different levels: the physical and the metaphysical. Realistic narrative and dreamy illusions are interwoven in a very exciting manner.
The story follows famous novelist Dasrath – impressively performed by the charismatic actor Nana Patekar – at a point in his career when he is receiving the top state literature prize. The mysterious heroine from his latest novel, Lajvanti, becomes the writer’s personal obsession and muse. He is taken by her magical singing and dancing. After giving a shockingly cynical speech at the award ceremony in Delhi, the writer disappears somewhere in Hyderabad being hunted by the spirits from his own past.
The wonderfully visualised sequences of Lajvanti’s dance mysteriously bind the real to the surreal. The film evokes the important Indian classic Umrao Jaan (dir. Muzaffar Ali, 1981) by the memorable performance of superstar Rekha, who appears in both films in the role of seductive courtesan. Rekha succeeds in bringing to life the dualism of Lajvanti’s complex psychological state. This captivating film by multi-talented Ghose, who also composed the music, merges the boundaries between reality and fantasy leaving an open ending where we ponder on the nature of escapism and true love. (RS)