Buddhadeb Guha’s novel Babli was published in 1985 but the story of a young woman suffering from low self-esteem for her plus size is as relevant today as it was then.
In his film adaptation starring Subhashree Ganguly, Raj Chakrabarty stays close to the text, exploring how conventional ideas of beauty influence man-woman relationships and the complexities it gives rise to.
Set in 1993, the film begins with Damayanti aka Babli (Subhashree) — a free-spirited woman from Delhi whose body shape is the cause of much anxiety for her —- going on a holiday to Imphal. There she meets Abhirup Sen (Abir Chatterjee), a charismatic forest official, and they form a connection on a shared road trip from Imphal to Kohima. Their plans for a subsequent rendezvous are, however, disrupted by circumstances.
On returning to Delhi, Babli runs into Jhuma (Sauraseni Maitra), a former classmate who boasts of a captivating new lover. To Babli’s dismay, this dashing boyfriend turns out to be Abhirup. Already haunted by insecurities about her body, Babli’s jealousy intensifies as she compares herself to Jhuma’s glamorous persona.
After Abhirup convinces Babli that he is in love with her and is not interested in Jhuma, they plan a vacation in Imphal but Jhuma unexpectedly lands up there too, plunging Babli into an emotional turmoil.
Shubhashree makes Babli her own, capturing the character’s intelligence, wit and vulnerability with remarkable precision. Abir’s portrayal of the brooding and enigmatic Abhirup is equally impressive, and their on-screen chemistry is striking. However, Sauraseni Maitra’s Jhuma is not a well-fleshed out character, which weakens the tension between the two protagonists.
Raj Chakrabarty handles the intricacies of the relationship and the challenges that Babli and Abhirup face quite well. He manages to create a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film, except for the bits where some songs have been inserted and they don’t add anything to the plot.
Manas Ganguly’s cinematography is one of the film’s strong points. The landscapes of Manipur and Nagaland look like picture postcards, and a particular scene shot at the Loktak Lake at night is hauntingly beautiful. The background score by Indraadip Dasgupta complements the visuals.
