The Howrah bridge, those bright yellow taxis, the immersion of Durga idols – all the familiar indicators make an appearance without screaming out that they have been dragged in to remind us that we are in Kolkata. It is as if, like John Biswas, for the camera too time has stood still while a bustling city hurries about all around. Tushar Kanti Ray’s cinematography complements their labours, capturing Kolkata’s chaos and colours sans clichés, lending shades of gray and a pall of detached gloom to the crowded city. Both add to the film’s atmospherics and unyielding tension. Suresh Nair and Bijesh Jayrajan’s screenplay favours minimalism over verbosity. Dasgupta clearly has a deep understanding of the film’s milieu and a firm handle on the solid written material at his disposal. The star of this film is director Ribhu Dasgupta’s refusal to step on the accelerator. And when the big oh moment arrives without drumbeats and trumpeters, it is hard not to share his anguish and sense of helplessness. It is almost impossible to shake off the fingers of fear that grip the heart as he appears to repeatedly endanger himself in his quest for the truth. The simmering treatment is designed to unite viewers with Biswas’ frustration, to help us understand why he takes so many risks to attain closure. There are no high-speed car chases, screeching tyres and high-decibel shootouts anywhere in sight. Meanwhile, Fr Das’ curiosity is piqued when another kidnapping takes place and his old friend, police officer Sarita Sharma (Balan), asks for help with the investigation because of the similarities between the two cases.Ĭentral to the effectiveness of Te3n is its pace, which serves to build up a sense of dread and foreboding until the identity of the culprit/s is revealed.

In 2015 when Biswas arrives at his church with a clue to the whereabouts of the kidnapper/s, Fr Martin Das urges him for the nth time to heal rather than rake up an old wound.īiswas is undeterred, of course.

He handles his trauma – or perhaps tries to escape his sense of guilt – by leaving the force to become a Christian priest. Angela’s death had a profound impact on Das too.

Te3n 2016 movie