Jonaki (film)

Last updated

Jonaki
Directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta
Written by Aditya Vikram Sengupta
Produced bySamir Sarkar
Starring Lolita Chatterjee
Jim Sarbh
Ratnabali Bhattacharjee
Sumanto Chattopadhyay
Cinematography Aditya Vikram Sengupta
Mahendra Shetty
Music byAlexander Zekke
Production
company
Magic Hour Films
Release date
  • 25 January 2018 (2018-01-25)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries India, France, Singapore
Language Bengali

Jonaki (Firefly) is a 2018 Bengali-language psychological drama film directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta [1] and produced by Samir Sarkar. [2] An India, France, Singapore co production the film is produced by Magic Hour Films in association with For Films and Catherine Dussart Production. Jonaki is the "dream" of an 81-year-old woman who in her comatose state revisits her tumultuous life through surrealistic images of painful echoing memories. The film stars late Lolita Chatterjee, [3] Jim Sarbh, Ratnabali Bhattacharjee and Sumanto Chattopadhyay.

Contents

Jonaki had its world premiere in the Bright Future [4] section of the 47th International Film Festival Rotterdam [5] [6] in 2018 where it was nominated for the coveted Netpac Awards. [7] It then travelled to several international film festivals including the Shanghai International Film Festival, New Horizons Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, [8] Indian Melbourne Film Festival [9] amongst others.

Jonaki was nominated for the Golden Gateway of India for Best Film at the 20th Mumbai Film Festival [10] (MAMI) in 2018 and went on to win the Silver Gateway Award. [11] It also won a Special Mention for Best Film on Gender Equality at the Oxfam Awards in 2018. [12] [13]

Jonaki is available on Netflix. [14]

Plot

While Jonaki, an 80-year-old woman, searches for love in a strange world of decaying memories, her lover, now old and grey, returns to a world she is leaving behind.

Cast

Related Research Articles

Chatterjee, also known as Chattopadhyay is a Bengali Hindu surname, used by the Kulin group of the Bengali Brahmin caste. Together with Banerjees, Mukherjees, Bhattacharjees, and Gangulys, Chatterjees form the Kulin Brahmins, the highest tier of the Bengali caste system. They belong to Rarhi clan of Bengali Brahmins and the Kashyapa gotra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parambrata Chatterjee</span> Indian actor

Parambrata Chattopadhyay is an Indian actor and director. Parambrata started his career with Bengali television and films. He has acted as the fictional character Topshe from Feluda under Sandip Ray's direction. His notable works include Bhalo Theko (2003), Baishe Srabon (2011), Sold (2014), Kadambari (2017), Anukul (2017), Pari (2018), Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2019), Dwitiyo Purush(2020), Bulbbul (2020) and Doctor Bakshi (2023). He made his Hindi debut in Kahaani (2012), starring with Vidya Balan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Sreelekha Mitra is an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. Winner of a BFJA Award and an Anandalok Award, Mitra is best known for her roles in films such as Hothat Brishti (1998), Kantatar (2006), Aschorjo Prodip (2013), Swade Ahlade (2015), Choukath (2015) and Rainbow Jelly (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saswata Chatterjee</span> Indian actor (born 1970)

Saswata Chatterjee is an Indian actor of television and films based in Kolkata. Born to actor Subhendu Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee began his career with a Hindi serial directed by Saibal Mitra, based on Samaresh Majumdar's Kaalpurush. He gained popularity by portraying the character of Topshe in a Feluda-based television series directed by Sandip Ray. His acting in many Bengali films has been praised by the critics, including his portrayal of a Ritwik Ghatak-inspired character in the 2013 film Meghe Dhaka Tara. He enjoyed success at the national level in Sujoy Ghosh's 2012 blockbuster Hindi film, Kahaani, where he played Bob Biswas, an assassin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranjan Ghosh</span>

Ranjan Ghosh is a Bengali filmmaker based out of Kolkata, India. He had risen to prominence with the release of Aparna Sen's Bengali feature film Iti Mrinalini, by becoming the first and the only screenwriter, the acclaimed actor-director had collaborated with in her illustrious career till date. With this film, Ghosh had made his screenwriting debut. He made his directorial debut in 2014 with the critically acclaimed Hrid Majharey, a Bengali feature film starring Abir Chatterjee and Raima Sen. Inspired by certain iconic plays of William Shakespeare, it was the first film in the Bengali language based on the works of the Bard and was presented as a tribute on his 450th Birth Anniversary. His second film Rongberonger Korhi was an anthology of four short films woven around the theme of money and its relationship with human beings. It featured National Award-winning actor Rituparna Sengupta, veteran cine star Chiranjeet Chakraborty, critically acclaimed actors Ritwick Chakraborty, Soham Chakraborty, Kharaj Mukherjee, Arunima Ghosh, Arjun Chakrabarty and others. It became a widely acclaimed film on release in 2018, before doing the festival rounds in Dubai, Dhaka, London, and nationally at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad. In 2019, Ghosh released his third feature film, the hugely successful Ahaa Re featuring Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvoo, Rituparna Sengupta, Amrita Chattopadhyay, Paran Bandopadhyay, Deepankar De, Shakuntala Barua, Bangladeshi Cinema film actor Alamgir in a special appearance as a restaurant owner. The film made it to a coveted list of 25 all-time great Asian films about food, compiled by international film web magazine Asian Movie Pulse. Ghosh's fourth feature film Mahishasur Marddini - A Night to Remember featuring his muse Rituparna Sengupta along with Saswata Chatterjee, Parambrata Chattopadhyay and a bunch of young theatre actors, released in 2022 and is touted as his boldest work till date in which he experiments with form and style, combining the elements of theatre and cinema. The film was screened at the Film and Television Institute of India, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Hyderabad, English and Foreign Languages University, University of Kerala, SNDT Women's University, Pondicherry University, IIT Bombay, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata and Tata Institute of Social Sciences. The Indian People's Theatre Association, Kollam District Committee, Kerala, screened the film in August 2023. Earlier, it became the first Indian feature film to screen at any theatre festival anywhere in India when it played at the 21st Habitat Theatre Festival, 2022, organized by the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srijit Mukherji</span> Indian actor, director and screenwriter

Srijit Mukherji is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Bengali cinema. His regular collaboration with veteran actor Prosenjit Chatterjee brought him into the limelight. His first feature film Autograph (2010), was a critical and commercial success, where he had written the script with Chatterjee in mind. His fifth film, Jaatishwar, won four national awards at India's 61st National Film Awards (2014). He won the National Film Award for Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay for his sixth film, Chotushkone, at India's 62nd National Film Awards. His eighth film, Rajkahini had been remade into a Hindi film titled, Begum Jaan, starring Vidya Balan in 2017. His 2018 release Ek Je Chhilo Raja won the 'Best Bengali Film' Award at India's 66th National Film Awards. His 2019 film Gumnaami won him the Best Bengali Film and Best Adapted Screenplay Awards at the 67th National Film Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratim D. Gupta</span> Indian journalist and filmmaker (born 1981)

Pratim D. Gupta is an Indian journalist, film critic, screenwriter and film director. He reviewed films for The Telegraph newspaper and later for online platform Film Companion. His first film as writer-director is Paanch Adhyay, starring Priyanshu Chatterjee and Dia Mirza. His subsequent films Shaheb Bibi Golaam and Maacher Jhol have been big box office hits besides being critically acclaimed.

<i>Gogoler Kirti</i> 2014 Indian film

Gogoler Kirti is a 2014 Indian Bengali film, directed by Pompy Ghosh Mukherjee and produced by Supratik Ghosh under the banner of Ishani Films. Based on the story Royraja Uddhar and Mahishmardini Uddhar by Samaresh Basu, the film features child actor Ahijit Ghosh, Vikram Chatterjee and Indraneil Sengupta in the lead roles. It is the sequel of 2013 film Goyenda Gogol. The film was released on 12 September 2014.

<i>Taan</i> (2014 film) 2014 Indian film

Taan is a 2014 Indian Bengali drama film, written and directed by Mukul Roy Chowdhury. The film is based on the life of prostitutes and human trafficking.

Basabdatta Chatterjee is a Bengali actress who mainly works in Bengali television serials. She made her debut in the popular soap Gaaner Oparey directed by Rituparno Ghosh. She rose to fame by acting in the lead female role in the comedy soap Boyei Gelo, which aired on Zee Bangla. But later, due to other engagements, she stopped acting in the serial. Boyei Gelo was Basabdatta's seventh work. Subsequently, she worked in a daily soap Mon Niye Kachakachi on Star Jalsha, where she acted the role of Dr. Labanya Sanyal Kapoor. Currently, she acts as Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's mother Prabhabati Devi on Zee Bangla's daily soap Netaji.

<i>Checkmate</i> (Indian TV series) Television series

Checkmate was an Indian Bengali television thriller series which aired on Star Jalsha from 21 January 2012 to 15 June 2012.

Aditya Vikram Sengupta is an Indian film director, cinematographer and graphic designer. His first film Asha Jaoar Majhe or Labour of Love, released in 2014 which premiered at the 11th Venice Days section of the Venice International Film Festival, which won him the National Award for Best Debut in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Sarbh</span> Indian actor (born 1987)

Jim Sarbh is an Indian actor known for his work in films and stage productions. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award, and an IIFA Award with a nomination for an International Emmy Award. Additionally, he has directed and acted in numerous theatre productions in India.

<i>Ke Apon Ke Por</i> Indian television soap opera

Ke Apon Ke Por is an Indian Bengali television soap opera which aired on Bengali Entertainment Channel Star Jalsha and is available on the digital platform Disney+ Hotstar. It premiered on 25 July 2016. After airing for 4 years, the show went off air on 27 December 2020. The show was produced by Boyhood Productions of Surinder Singh, Gurjit Singh and Sushanta Das.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmay Entertainment</span> Indian film and television production company

Emmay Entertainment and Motion Pictures LLP is an Indian content production company based in Mumbai, India. It was founded by Nikkhil Advani, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani in 2011. After its inception, it began with full-length feature films and gradually expanded to television, short films, telefilms and digital content.

Khoj is a Bengali psychological thriller film directed by Arka Ganguly. This film was released on 2 June 2017 in the banner of Magic Moments Motion Pictures. Khoj has won total 9 international awards at Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival, Studio city international film festival, Idyll wild international festival of cinema etc.

<i>Ghoul</i> (miniseries) Indian horror television miniseries

Ghoul is an Indian horror television miniseries based on the Arab folklore monster ghoul, and the second Netflix original from India, after Sacred Games. The series is written and directed by Patrick Graham and jointly produced by Jason Blum, Anurag Kashyap, Ryan Turek, Vikramaditya Motwane, Michael Hogan, Kilian Kerwin, John Penotti and Suraj Gohill under their respective banners Blumhouse Productions, Phantom Films and Ivanhoe Pictures.

<i>Chalbaaz</i> 2018 Indian Bengali romantic comedy film by Joydip Mukherjee

Chalbaaz (transl. Trickster) is a 2018 Indian Bengali romantic comedy film directed by Joydip Mukherjee. The film stars Bangladeshi Superstar Shakib Khan and Subhashree Ganguly in the lead roles. The cast also includes Rajatabha Dutta, Kharaj Mukherjee, Syed Hasan Imam, Atul Sharma and Ashish Vidyarthi. The film is produced by OT Ltd Productions The film is a remake of 2015 Telugu movie Subramanyam for Sale. The film is released in India on 20 April 2018. And Released in Bangladesh on 27 April 2018. The film received generally positive reviews from critics. It topped the box office in its opening week.

Lolita Chatterjee was an actress who worked in Bengali Cinema. She made her debut as an adult in 1964 and played her first role in the Bengali classic ‘Bibhas’ alongside Uttam Kumar.

<i>Once Upon a Time in Calcutta</i> 2021 Indian film

Once Upon A Time In Calcutta is a 2021 Bengali language Indian-French-Norwegian film directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. It is the third film by the Indian director and produced by Wishberry Films, in association with For Films, with Catherine Dussart Productions and DUOfilm As. The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021.

References

  1. Jonaki (2018) - IMDb , retrieved 12 February 2020
  2. "Puducherry producer's film to be shown at Dutch fest". The Times of India. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. Scroll Staff. "Bengali actress Lolita Chatterjee dies at 81". Scroll.in. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. Orlando Parfitt2018-01-05T13:09:00+00:00. "Rotterdam Film Festival reveals 2018 Bright Future selection". Screen. Retrieved 12 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "Jonaki on the IIFR 2018 website". International Film Festival of Rotterdam.
  6. "Bengali movie 'Jonaki' premiered at Rotterdam film festival". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  7. Jonaki - IMDb , retrieved 12 February 2020
  8. Mohan, Jithin (27 March 2019). "Film Review: Jonaki (2018) by Aditya Vikram Sengupta". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  9. "Jim Sarbh's Bengali debut Jonaki, directed by Aditya Sengupta, to be screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne". Firstpost. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. Saha, Souvik (5 November 2018). "Jonaki [2018]: 'MAMI' Review - An exploration of dreams". High On Films. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. "Here Are the Top Winners of MAMI 2018". The Quint. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  12. "Mumbai: Thailand's 'Manta Ray,' India's 'Bulbul Can Sing' Win Festival's Top Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  13. Panicker, Anahita (29 October 2018). "A tipping point for gender justice campaigns". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  14. "Jonaki | Netflix". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  15. "Jonaki is a film people would be too afraid to make: Jim Sarbh". Cinema Express . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  16. "'Padmaavat' actor Jim Sarbh talks about his film 'Jonaki'". The Statesman. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.