Kolkata, March 20 The run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections is witnessing a mix of politics and popular culture, with several Bengali films with political and social themes hitting theaters, which industry observers describe as a "new phase" in regional cinema.
Films such as 'Korpoor', 'Adamya' and 'Keu Bole Biplobi Keu Bole Dakat' are part of this trend, with politically layered storytelling gaining ground amid the intense election cycle.
The development reflects a growing appetite for politically charged narratives in the state, where cinema has historically intersected with ideological discourse, from Mrinal Sen’s 'Calcutta 71' trilogy to Ritwik Ghatak’s 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' and later Buddhadeb Dasgupta's 'Grihajuddho' and Goutam Ghosh's 'Paar'.
Two of the three films, currently in theaters, are not directly linked to electoral campaigns, but explore themes of governance, power dynamics in educational institutions, and institutional corruption, dissent and rebellion against corruption – issues that resonate strongly during the poll season.
'Korpoor', a contemporary political drama directed by Arindam Sil, released on March 19, is a drama-thriller that delves into layered socio-political tensions.
The film stars Rituparna Sengupta, Saheb Chatterjee, Bratya Basu and Lahoma Bhattacharjee in key roles.
Notably, the presence of Basu, a minister and a theatre personality, adds a meta-political dimension to the narrative.
Industry insiders describe the film as a commentary on contemporary power dynamics and moral ambiguity, packaged within a thriller format.
Sil told