Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Soumitra Chatterjee, Tota Roy Chowdhury and Radhika Apta
Short films are to cinema what social media is to the internet or what T20 is to cricket. It's fast, to the point and it doesn't ask the viewer to indulge with their time. In less than 20 minutes, you're served thrills and spills nearly equivalent of a regular feature film. And Sujoy Ghosh's Ahalya does just that. From the very first shot, with Tota Roy Chowdhury dressed in the cop's uniform, ringing a door bell, you feel you've been transported back to the world of Kahaani. Over the next 14 minutes, you actually end up witnessing another taut thriller.
This is the story of a Kolkata cop Indra (Tota Roy Chowdhury), looking for a missing person. His search brings him to the house of Sadhu (Soumitra Chatterjee) a renowned artist. But from the very first moment, you know something is off. Ahalya (Radhika Apte) appears amorously seductive and she's married to the septuagenarian Sadhu. And then there's the curious case of supernaturally moving dolls. The entire set up seems too fishy for a cop to resist and that's just what happens.
The big challenge with a mystery genre short film is not how you pack in thrills, but how you reach the veritable conclusion. The ever important third act needs to be reached within the constraints of time. And here's where Ahalya scores a big win. Before you can grasp at what's transpiring, the director lays it on you. You won't be left gobsmacked, but you will appreciate the genuine inventiveness of the plot and the storytelling effort.
Sujoy Ghosh can thank three key departments of his filmmaking team. Firstly, the music, the background score sets the right mood and builds the anticipation and tension. The camera work is no less spectacular. The hand held movements especially create a nice supplement to the eerie setting. And then comes the brilliant cast. Radhika Apte as the enchantress, the siren who draws you in is good. But the show stealers are Soumitra and Tota Roy. The thespian deploys the right mix of friendliness and comfort. While Tota brings the nervous energy and the looming sense of peril.
Ahalya is definitely a thrill a second ride. It's on YouTube, so it doesn't cost any money to watch. Best part is, without spending too much time either, you’ll get introduced to a fantastic fable of Indra, Ahalya and her husband. Albeit with a contemporary and erotic twist.
This is the story of a Kolkata cop Indra (Tota Roy Chowdhury), looking for a missing person. His search brings him to the house of Sadhu (Soumitra Chatterjee) a renowned artist. But from the very first moment, you know something is off. Ahalya (Radhika Apte) appears amorously seductive and she's married to the septuagenarian Sadhu. And then there's the curious case of supernaturally moving dolls. The entire set up seems too fishy for a cop to resist and that's just what happens.
The big challenge with a mystery genre short film is not how you pack in thrills, but how you reach the veritable conclusion. The ever important third act needs to be reached within the constraints of time. And here's where Ahalya scores a big win. Before you can grasp at what's transpiring, the director lays it on you. You won't be left gobsmacked, but you will appreciate the genuine inventiveness of the plot and the storytelling effort.
Sujoy Ghosh can thank three key departments of his filmmaking team. Firstly, the music, the background score sets the right mood and builds the anticipation and tension. The camera work is no less spectacular. The hand held movements especially create a nice supplement to the eerie setting. And then comes the brilliant cast. Radhika Apte as the enchantress, the siren who draws you in is good. But the show stealers are Soumitra and Tota Roy. The thespian deploys the right mix of friendliness and comfort. While Tota brings the nervous energy and the looming sense of peril.
Ahalya is definitely a thrill a second ride. It's on YouTube, so it doesn't cost any money to watch. Best part is, without spending too much time either, you’ll get introduced to a fantastic fable of Indra, Ahalya and her husband. Albeit with a contemporary and erotic twist.
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