PremiumAjogyo review: Silajit Majumder shines while Prosenjit Chatterjee and Rituparna Sengupta’s chemistry sparkles in this mundane drama
Ajogyo is surely a one-time-watch but it can’t be one of the best works of Kaushik Ganguly.
Last Updated: 01.26 PM, Jun 08, 2024
Ajogyo story:
When Raktim Majumder (Silajit Majumder) loses his job, his wife Parna (Rituparna Sengupta) takes up a job after a hiatus. He starts looking after their daughter Chiki, who is partially diffable and needs a leg brace to walk. Jobless Raktim gets frustrated and alcoholic and meets Prosen (Prosenjit Chatterjee) at a bar and the two become friends. It is not really a two-way friendship. There is a hidden past and an enigmatic future to follow.
Ajogyo review:
The first thing that strikes the viewer after watching the movie is that so much has been done to achieve precious little. That’s how one can sum up Kaushik Ganguly’s latest offering, Ajogyo. The film could just have been a love story. It could even have been a thriller. However, the concoction of the paltry storyline and seemingly unrelated subplots has made the film unnecessarily protracted.
Ajogyo has its strengths and Silajit is the strongest point in the film. He rarely acts, but when he does he often leaves a mark. Here too, his subdued acting is a pleasure to watch. Ajogyo is, by far, one of his finest performances. A good actor often garnishes the character with small and seemingly inconsequential gestures that make the character look real. Throughout the film, Silajit offers such tiny touches – taking off his glasses, twitching lips, and expressing helplessness through his eyes. In a scene where he falls flat on the floor with his dinner scattered all around him, there is a posture of abject pity that touches hearts.
The second and the most anticipated strength of the film is Prosenjit and Rituparna. Their chemistry is the real deal. Every time they meet they exude unputdownable and electrifying charm. Their climactic scene at the beach is beautifully shot. This is perhaps the most beautiful moment in the film. In short, Prosenjit and Rituparna are fabulous in Ajogyo. Meanwhile, Prosenjit's charisma and Rituparna's restrain become a treat to watch.
Finally, the music of the film is beautiful. The songs, especially both versions of Ajogyo Ami by Anupam Roy and Rupam Islam, are charming. Not just the songs, but even the background score is suitable and does not overpower the film.
However, there are low points. First, some elements used in the film have added little value to it. The leg brace of Chiki seems pointless as her family members would have been equally disturbed even without it.
Second, the subplot and main plot appear to be unrelated for the longest part of the film. A bit more elaboration on Prosen’s past could have helped. His character is perhaps deliberately hidden. However, after a point, the enigma around Prosen just makes him elusive (the end explains a lot but not enough).
Third, a major part of the second half is dedicated to Odisha tourism and more importantly, Lord Jagannath. Not only has it added little value but has also become tiring after a point.
Then, there are some pointless issues in the dialogue that have little relevance to the storyline. Until the film points it out, no one seems to question why Chiki is so young when her parents have been married for so long. The explanation is redundant. In a sea of pointless dialogue, Lily Chakraborty's character shines bright with smart and with. The actress steals the show every time she schools her on-screen son, Prosen.
Ajogyo verdict:
Ajogyo is surely a one-time-watch but it can’t be one of the best works of Kaushik Ganguly. For a man who gifted us nuanced and complex films like Shabdo and Nagarkirtan has raised the bar high for himself. Any mediocrity from him seems disheartening. He does better than soapy family dramas and we wait for those.