Goynar
Baksho (The Jewellery Box)
Goynar Baksho, directed by Aparna Sen is a
nice film. One thing I like about Aparna Sen`s films is that there is always
something different to look forward to in her films.
Goynar Baksho is an intriguing story of a
Jewellery Box which originally belongs to Pishima, a captivating character. The
Jewellery Box is handed down to three generations of women & how the women
use the box is what the story is all about.
Pishima is a mysterious, delightful yet affable
character. She is impish, mischievous & unpredictable. The story begins
& ends with her though this is a deviation from the original story.
Apparently Aparna Sen liked Pishima a lot so she wanted to retain her
throughout the film.
After her demise, Pishima asks Somlata
(Konkona Sen Sharma) to take her Jewellery Box & hide it so that the people
residing in the palatial yet broken down house cannot claim it. Somlata is a
timid yet determined lady who wants to use the jewels to improve the declining
fortunes of their family. She convinces her husband to start a new business of
selling saris and also gets him to mend his ways. Somlata or Konkona Sen Sharma
is a powerhouse performer & has done full justice to the role.
In the final stage, Chaitali played by
Srabanti uses the Jewellery box in an unusual way. Srabanti takes on a dewy
fresh, understated look which is quite different from her usual avatar.
There's a particular scene towards the end
of the film where the mercurial pishima's ghost asks her granddaughter Chaitali
to join her for a smoke on the balcony. Pishima is a ghost yet she has a lot to
do & say in this film. In fact she controls all the people either directly
or indirectly. Moushumi has essayed Pishima`s role brilliantly & you can
almost feel the anguish & desperation of a woman who is widowed early in life.
This endearing tale spanning three
generations of women is a must watch for Konkona & Pishima`s fantastic
performances. After watching the film you will realize that a Jewellery Box is
not merely a place where you can store your jewels & hand it down from
generation to generation. It transforms people…brings out their innermost
feelings & desires. On the other hand the new generation represented by Chaitali
shows a marked disinclination towards wearing jewellery seeing it merely as something
to be used during difficult times.
The pace of this film is slow but it is a
nice film to watch for the riveting performances. This is an engaging tale of
sorrow & unfulfilled yearning sprinkled liberally with Aparna Sen`s &
the author’s inimitable humour. The Jewellery Box definitely opens Pandora’s
Box of emotions, desires & longings.
