The Cloud and the Man | |
---|---|
Directed by | Abhinandan Banerjee |
Written by | Abhinandan Banerjee |
Produced by | Bauddhayan Mukherji, Monalisa Mukherji |
Starring | Chandan Sen, Debesh Roychowdhury, Bratya Basu, Nimai Ghosh |
Cinematography | Anup Singh |
Edited by | Abhro Banerjee |
Music by | Subhajit Mukherjee |
Production company | Little Lamb Films |
Running time | 97 Minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Bengali |
The Cloud and the Man (also known as Manikbabur Megh) is a Bengali film directed by debutant director Abhinandan Banerjee and produced by Buaddhayan and Monalisa Mukherji.[1] Actor Chandan Sen who portrayed the title role bagged the Best Actor Award at the 19th Pacific Meridian Film Festival, Russia.[2][3]
Cast
- Chandan Sen as Manik Babu
- Debesh Roychowdhury as Kali
- Bratya Basu as Dr. Sadhan
- Nimai Ghosh as Madhab
- Arun Guhatharkurta
Plot
Using monochrome cinematography, The Cloud and the Man is a surreal and philosophical reflection on one recently-bereaved middle aged man and his accidentally complex yet meaningful relationship with a cloud. It is about Manik Babu, who makes friends with a cloud which he feels, keeps following him.[4] In the beginning, he is terrified but with time, he feels a strange bonding with the same cloud which strips him of his utter isolation, his loneliness and his alienation from the world around him.[5] This surreal relation brings out a new Manik in him and propels him into a roller coaster journey of faith, betrayal, belief, and warmth.[6]
Awards and Nominations
It had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival[7] where it opened the First Feature competition in Nov 2021. The Indian Premiere was at IFFI, Goa[8] and the North American Premiere took place at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The film finds place in the coveted list of FIPRESCI India's Top 10 Films of 2021 [9] and has won the NETPAC award for the Best Asian Film at the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival, 2022.[10] It also bagged the Chidananda Dasgupta Award and a citation for a feature film by a debut director for the 2nd year of the Chidananda Dasgupta Centenary Awards.[11]
References
- ↑ "Loneliness is almost like a pandemic now, my film has its origin in the curse of loneliness on us: Director of IFFI 52 Film "Manikbabur Megh"". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "Manikbabur Megh: Actor Chandan Sen wins the Best Actor Award at a Russian film festival". OTTPlay. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "মেঘের সঙ্গে প্রেম, আন্তর্জাতিক মঞ্চে চমক নতুন বাংলা ছবি 'মানিকবাবুর মেঘ'". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "Manik Babur Megh - SRFSB". 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "The Cloud & The Man (Manikbabur Megh) - film review". DMovies. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ A.K, Arun (2022-10-24). "The Story of a Man's Friendship With a Cloud". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "The Cloud & the Man". poff.ee. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "Kolkata-based director's debut film to be screened at Edinburgh Film Festival". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "FIPRESCI-India announces Grand-Prix-2021". Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ "Winners of 2021 - Kolkata International Film Festival". kiff.in. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑ Journal, North East Film (2022-11-24). "Film Review: Abhinandan Banerjee's Manik Babur Megh: Winner of the Chidananda Dasgupta Centenary Award for the Best Debut Feature Film". North East Film Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-29.