An official remake of Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Charlie (2015), Shieladitya Moulik’s Surjo is a breezy romance that leaves you with a wanderlust and a renewed interest in the simple joys in life.
Moulik’s film begins with a feisty young photographer, Uma (Madhumita Sarcar), quitting her job following a tiff with her boss. As her parents fix up an arranged marriage, Uma runs away from home and lands up in Chandrapur where she rents a room previously occupied by an artist, Surjo (Vikram Chatterjee).
Uma stumbles upon a graphic novel which Surjo was in the process of creating but did not finish. Intrigued by the unfinished sketches, she goes looking for Surjo and meets several people whose lives have been touched by this enigmatic man. This includes a former model-turned-actress, Diya (Darshana Banik), whose life Surjo had saved after an MMS leak derailed her career, and rehabilitated her at a shelter he ran in a hill-town.
Digging deeper into Surjo’s past, Uma is captivated by the person she thinks he is — a free-spirited soul who loves to gather experience rather than possessions — and falls in love with him.
Moulik has retained the flavour of the Malayalam film with minor tweaks, like replacing Thrissur Pooram with Durga Puja in the climax. The storytelling follows a non-linear format like the original, unfolding through a series of vignettes. But the episodic structure might feel disjointed to some viewers and difficult to piece together if one is not paying enough attention.
Uma’s search takes her from the alleys of Kumartuli in Kolkata to the scenic landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, and Ayan Sil’s cinematography weaves the contrasting beauty of these locations into the film’s emotional core.
Vikram plays the eccentric, charming Surjo with considerable ease. Madhumita matches up with a bubbly energy in her portrayal of Uma. The film’s supporting cast is thoroughly bankable too. From Uma’s quirky landlord Pilu (Prasun Gain) to the HIV-infected sex worker Meera (a brilliant Moumita Pandit), every character adds a layer of depth to the story and helps in understanding Surjo’s personality.
Loy-Deep’s music is a great accompaniment to the narrative, specially the two songs, Jodi Mele Dhoro Rode and Megh Muluker Jhil.
