Sourav Paul Datta’s Aabesh is an intriguing look at the dark contours of relationships

The film stars Rukmini Sircar, Dip Dey, Tapasya Dasgupta, Suraajit Chowdhury, Sucharita Manna, Ipsita Kundu, and veteran actor Madhabi Mukherjee in prominent roles. 

As human beings with the innate urge for connection and bonding, we come across people to connect with them and form meaningful relationships, be it with our family, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and neighbours. The death of a loved one can be earth-shattering and trigger psychological complications such as PTSD.

Set in this context, the plotline of Aabesh centres on Bidisha, who leaves her job and comes down to Kolkata to live with her boyfriend Samir, who is drowned in debts. Unable to take the pressure, Samir commits suicide. Bidisha, a witness to the incident, is unable to recover from the shock. She slips into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and begins having hallucinations of Samir. Nila persuades her to consult a therapist.

Regardless, Bidisha still struggles to come to terms with the suddenness and enormity of the loss. The crux of the narrative is about whether she recovers from the condition and returns to normal life, or plunges deeper into psychological problems and tumbles down towards a fate like Samir.

Sourav is an ardent admirer of filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta and considers him to be his major inspiration. He has directed critically acclaimed short films like Rupkothar Kahini – The Grandfather Paradox, 85 and the Fourth Dimension before.