Sada Ronger Prithibi: In Theatres On 23rd February, 2024
For decades, Banaras (Varanasi) has been the city to head to for financially-challenged Hindus widows in the country. Seeking refuge in the “free” shelters close to the holy river, they spent their lives confined in bleak living quarters, praying, chanting, eating, and sleeping, till death comes someday to take them away. It is believed that breathing one’s last in the holy city frees you from the repeated cycle of rebirth.
But all is not simple and uncomplicated in the forgotten and crumbling mansions that pass off as shelters in the city. Sada Ronger Prithibi by Raajhorshee De delves into the sensitive topic of widow trafficking in India and comes off as a nail-biting thriller with a police officer on a mission.
The official premiere of the film was held on February 23, 2024 at Inox South City Mall, Kolkata. In attendance were senior ministers of the West Bengal Government – Aroop Biswas, Bratya Basu, Snehasis Chakraborty, and Debasish Kumar, MLA amongst others.
Sada Ronger Prithibi explores the world of widows in Varanasi who live for years together, huddled in uncomfortable crumbling buildings, following a serene life as bleached as the white sarees they don at all times. But their dull and depressing existence away from the busy and bustling world beyond their shelter does not shake off the devious machinations of criminal masterminds that are out to prey on these unfortunate women.
Things get intense when a young police officer come to investigate one such shelter. Little does she know of the danger that hovers all around her as she disguises herself as a widow herself in order to uncover the truth. Will the gutsy police officer be able to shake off political pressure and other threats in her mission to fight the evil being meted out to the unfortunate women?
Presented by Adarsh Telemedia and Amit Agarwal and produced by Sushant Sengupta, Shrravonii Pal, Raajhorshee De, the film has an ensemble cast of actors from Bengal. The story highlights the plight of “Banaras widows”, as they have come to be called. It is a reflection of the age-old customs that bind them to a restrictive lifestyle and the crimes committed on the helpless women.
Srabanti Chatterjee, Sauraseni Maitra, Arindam Sil, Rwitobrata Mukherjee, Sneha Chatterjee, Mallika Banerjee, Devlina Kumar, Ananya Banerjee, Richa Sharma, Sohini Guha Roy, Deboshree Ganguly, Oindrilla Bose, Arunava Dery, Ishaan Mazumdar, Monalisha Banerjee, and Anuradha Choudhrury are the leading lights of Sada Ronger Prithibi. Subhrajit Mitra does a cameo. The music is by Ashu Chakraborty.
The film released worldwide in theatres on 23rd February, 2024.
Bengali