If you’re in a melancholic mood and up for a drama, then Iti Mrinalini is the film you need right now

Films that revolve around the lives of movie stars are typical. Giving us a peek into their personal lives, they hope to allow audiences a chance to get to know them beyond the veil of celebrity and through a candid lens. But there are films that also delve into their fragile existence and their inability to accept their forced obscurity when they fade from the limelight following decades of stardom. Aparna Sen’s Iti Mrinalini is one such poignant film and it’s our Lost and Found for today.

The 2011 Bengali film revolves around a popular actress called Mrinalini who is well past her prime. When she reflects on her glorious career chequered with fragmented relationships at a point when she’s about to consider extreme measures, she’s overwhelmed by a gush of nostalgia. The film shuttles between the present and flashback sequences as the disturbed actress turns over photographs – each triggering a memory of a certain time, place and person. Having lived a life rich in experiences, packed with ups and downs – both in her professional and personal life, Mrinalini finds herself in an emotional churn, struggling to make sense of it all – questioning her decisions and the consequences of her actions. The film depicts various themes including love, loss, regret and acceptance and carves a layered character who has navigated life without a care. Aparna Sen, plays the older Mrinalini, while Konkona Sen Sharma plays her younger version as seen in the flashback sequences.

This has to be one of Konkona’s most compelling performances and she embraces the various stages in Mrinalini’s life with complete immersion. From the young actress who’s naive and forthcoming to the seasoned veteran who’s reserved, reticent and has acquired a fragile ego that needs constant validation. The film has a strong supporting cast including Rajat Kapoor and Priyanshu Chatterjee who extend promising turns without turning the spotlight on themselves.

If you’re in a melancholic mood and up for a drama that covers the gamut of life experiences that many film stars go through, Iti Mrinalini is the film you need right now.

Iti Mrinalini is available to stream on Hoichoi

Well that's the OTTplay lost and found for today, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Kunal Guha