Voyeurs – Ami, Yasin Ar Amar Madhubala – film from India

Posted on | September 12, 2007 | 4 Comments

There is no doubt in my mind director Duddhadev Dasgupta feels a great deal for the forgotten people of Bengal and Calcutta. His portrait of the the inhabitants is both sweet, frank and sad. This film feels much the same as an earlier work, The Wrestlers, which appeared at the Festival in 2000.

 

Voyeurs is a film about 2 young men who share an apartment in Calcutta. Yasin moves from his village to Calcutta to stay with his friend Dilip, who installs video cameras for a living. Not much work in computers in a small village so Yasin has to move to help support his family. A pretty dancer moves in next door and Dilip falls in love with her, but is helpless when it comes to expressing his emotions. He resorts to secretly installing a video camera so he can watch her. He always turns off the camera before she undresses, he is too innocent, in a way, to allow his voyeurism to go further. Dasgupta doesn’t descend into purient voyeurism – he retains a light touch with his characters, allowing them to be innocent and at times terribly naive.

 

Interwoven in the story are a number of minor subplots, some of which are quite amusing, one which has deadly serious implications in the greater world of terrorism that rings true in North America and Europe. I can’t tell you much more, or I’ll spoil the film. But my favourite subplot has to do with a group of men carrying furniture on their heads around Calcutta. Curious? Good! Go see Voyeurs.

 

I have to admit I am an unabashed lover of Indian cinema. I can’t get enough. I even watch some Bollywood films on TV during the weekend. Voyeurs is not a Bollywood film, but it has a beautiful love of Bollywood threaded throughout the plot. The subtitles are well done and the audience will get a full sense of what is going on in the conversations. If you get the chance, see this as well as the Wrestlers.

Share|
Category: Movies, TIFF, Toronto, Toronto Film Festival

Comments

4 Responses to “Voyeurs – Ami, Yasin Ar Amar Madhubala – film from India”

  1. anita chowdhury
    May 27th, 2008 @ 2:18 pm

    Its a horrible film. Sorry to say this but I think you need to know about Bengal, Calcutta and India more. Thanks.

  2. catpaw
    May 27th, 2008 @ 2:57 pm

    Appreciating a film is very subjective. I stand by my enjoyment of this film. I never said it was a definitive view of Bengal and Calcuta, but that it was an excellent portrait of people.

    As for the statement on needing to know more of India – I fail to see how this is relevant. I have friends from the region who enjoyed the film. I have a friend from India who groaned when I mentioned it. I respect the fact you didn’t like it – Dasgupta is not an easy director to like. However… I have a fairly decent knowledge of the varied politics and culture of India – having studied it for my BA(hons). I have kept up with news from the subcontinent and have maintained a correspondance with friends from various areas of India. I am quite familiar with India. Your comment failed to enlighten me about what you saw as the failings of the film.

  3. Joyjeet
    July 21st, 2008 @ 2:33 pm

    Hi! I don’t know you. I was just wandering around cyberspace looking for some dope on this film and Google brought me here.
    I haven’t seen the film but the fairness of your argument: ‘Appreciating a film is very subjective’ prompted me to comment. I agree with the way you feel. Keep up the goodwork. Will try to come back later.

  4. Shib
    January 2nd, 2011 @ 9:50 pm

    Hi,
    The remark made by Anita is at the same time pretty much self explanatory,In the sense how it describes Bengali and Bengal.We are awfully snobish and yet cynical towards us.Anita’s remark expresses that quite well. Bengalis are known to maintain an air of superiority when in reality they are hypocrites too..