Maayakumari Explained

Maayakumari
Director:Arindam Sil
Starring:
Cinematography:Shubhankar Bhar
Editing:Sanglap Bhowmik
Music:Bickram Ghosh
Studio:Camellia Productions
Runtime:149 minutes
Country:India
Language:Bengali

Maayakumari is a 2023 Indian Bengali language film directed by Arindam Sil. It stars Rituparna Sengupta, Sauraseni Maitra, Ambarish Bhattacharya, Abir Chatterjee and Rajatabha Dutta. The music was composed by Bickram Ghosh.[1] It was theatrically released on 13 January 2023.[2]

Synopsis

Set in the 1940s, the film is about the sudden disappearance of Maaya Kumari.

Cast

Production

On 19 November 2019, On the occasion of 100 years completion of Bengali cinema, director Arindam Sil officially announced the film by sharing the title poster "Maayakumari" through social media. Rituparna Sengupta's first collaboration with Arindam Sil.[4]

On 21 December 2019, principal photography took place in Kolkata, West Bengal[5] Filming was wrapped up on 20 January 2020[6]

Soundtrack

Maayakumari
Type:Soundtrack
Released:2020
Recorded:2020
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Length:32:29
Language:Bengali
Prev Year:2019
Year:2020
Next Year:2021

The music was omposed by Bickram Ghosh with lyrics by Subhendu Dasmunshi, and sung by Madhubanti Bagchi. The first single titled "Madhumashey Phool Photey" was released on 11 May 2020;[7] the second song, titled "Bhalobese Eto Jwala Jodi", was released on 7 October 2020.[8]

Reception

Agnivo Niyogi of The Telegraph Wrote "At its core, Maayakumari is a love story that ends in heartbreak. Maaya's affair with Kanan finds a resonance in Ahir's relationship with Runi".[9] Poorna Banerjee of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 3/5 and says "But the script could have been far tighter, especially around the character of Runi, who is probably the weakest link in the tale. This is perhaps why despite the ensemble cast, the film fails to retain the attention of the audience in certain areas, making it a one-time watch at best".[10] Shamayita Chakraborty of Ott Play gave the film a rating of 3/5 and wrote "Maayakumari has its limitations. Despite that, it is a nice film to watch. It has its cinematic moments to entertain and keep you hooked to the screen. Also, Maayakumari is a film that is best enjoyed on the big screen".[11] A reviewer of Sangbad Pratidin wrote "The overall performance of Rituparna, Abir, Arunima, Indrashis, Souraseni, Arn, Ambarish was better. Everyone is careful to act keeping their time and environment in mind. Abir, Arunima and Rituparna were understandably uncomfortable with the prosthetic makeup, but it comes down to the excellence of the acting".[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 January 2022 . Director Arindam Sil on the challenges of creating the period drama Maayakumari . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230130161756/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/director-arindam-sil-on-the-challenges-of-creating-the-period-drama-maayakumari/cid/1911045 . 30 January 2023 . 30 January 2023 . . en.
  2. Web site: 9 January 2023 . 'Maayakumari' trailer a centenary celebration of Bengali cinema . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113002011/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/maayakumari-trailer-a-centenary-celebration-of-bengali-cinema/articleshow/96760181.cms . 13 January 2023 . 14 January 2023 . . en.
  3. Web site: 18 January 2023 . Abir Chatterjee on playing a double role in Maayakumari and his Hindi OTT debut . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230118191457/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/abir-chatterjee-on-playing-a-double-role-in-maayakumari-and-his-hindi-ott-debut/cid/1910677 . 18 January 2023 . 18 January 2023 . . en.
  4. Web site: 27 November 2019 . Arindam Sil's Maayakumari to celebrate 100 years of Bengali cinema . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230430035026/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/nov/27/23384/arindam-sil-s-maayakumari-to-celebrate-100-years-of-bengali-cinema . 30 April 2023 . 30 April 2023 . Cinestaan.com . en.
  5. Web site: 21 December 2019 . 'মায়াকুমারী'-র শুটিং চলছে, দেখে নিন তারই কিছু ঝলক . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021105451/https://bengali.indianexpress.com/entertainment/arindam-sils-next-film-mayakumari-shooting-video-173013/ . 21 October 2020 . 21 October 2020 . . bn.
  6. Web site: 20 January 2020 . It's a wrap for Arindam Sil's 'Maya Kumari' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230430041159/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/its-a-wrap-for-arindam-sils-maya-kumari/articleshow/73430751.cms?from=mdr . 30 April 2023 . 30 April 2023 . . en.
  7. Web site: 11 May 2020 . 'Maya Kumari' first song 'Madhumashey Phool Photey' out . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230430061719/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/music/maya-kumari-first-song-madhumashey-phool-photey-out-now/articleshow/75676102.cms?from=mdr . 30 April 2023 . 30 April 2023 . . en.
  8. Web site: 7 October 2020 . 'Maayakumari' song 'Bhalobese Eto Jwala Jodi' a tribute to the eternal charm of love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426224358/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/music/maayakumari-song-bhalobese-eto-jwala-jodi-a-tribute-to-the-eternal-charm-of-love/articleshow/78528265.cms . 26 April 2023 . 26 April 2023 . . en.
  9. Web site: 17 January 2023 . Arindam Sil's Maayakumari is a period drama-meets-suspense thriller with a dash of humour . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117115122/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/arindam-sils-maayakumari-is-a-period-drama-meets-suspense-thriller-with-a-dash-of-humour/cid/1910421 . 17 January 2023 . 17 January 2023 . . en.
  10. Web site: 17 January 2023 . Maayakumari Movie Review: A period drama that even the good music and acting couldn't save . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424062901/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movie-reviews/maayakumari/amp_movie_review/97063306.cms . 24 April 2024 . 27 April 2023 . . en.
  11. Web site: 14 January 2023 . Maayakumari review: Rituparna Sengupta and Abir Chatterjee's drama has its high and low points . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230429140308/https://www.ottplay.com/amp/review/maayakumari-review-rituparna-sengupta-and-abir-chatterjees-drama-has-its-high-and-low-points/a4993e4946366 . 29 April 2023 . 29 April 2023 . . en.
  12. Web site: 14 January 2023 . সিনেমার মধ্যে আরেক সিনেমার গল্প, চিত্রনাট্যেই বাজিমাত 'মায়াকুমারী'র, পড়ুন রিভিউ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117094529/https://m.sangbadpratidin.in/article/mayakumari-review-rituparna-sengupta-and-abir-chatterjee-starrer-this-movie-good-to-watch/800253 . 17 January 2023 . 17 January 2023 . . bn.