Kolkata: Curtains have rolled on a new era, and the long winter of uncertainty at the box office is finally behind us. Bengali cinema, disparaged by doubt, now basks in the golden glow of brevity and art that refuses to be abandoned.
Well, once again. 2025 witnessed a comeback story with box-office hits like Binodini: Ekti Natir Upakhyan, Killbill Society, Puratawn, The Eken: Benaras e Bibhishika, and more—to lift the tempo. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mandated that at least one Bengali film be showcased during prime time, 3pm to 9pm.
Now, as December’s cool breath drifts through Kolkata’s bustling streets, we are set to witness three big cinematic zings coming this Christmas—Projapati 2, Lawho Gouranger Naam Rey and Ekti Khunir Sandhane Mitin.
Three big cinematic zings
Projapati 2—a sequel to Dev and Mithun Chakraborty’s Projapati, directed by Avijit Sen and produced by Bengal Talkies and Dev Entertainment—brings cocooned emotions of ‘aami Bangali’ to the heart of London. By exploring fatherhood and its nurturing qualities, the film caters to three generations—the narrative amounts to preserving heritage. Dev, as a chef, is carved with time and tenderness; the story walks through him, tuning between rituals and roots. In paradoxical times like these, where we constantly get ourselves in debacles of masculine-feminine, of provider-nurturer, Projapati 2 tries to cast a shine on it with commercial tonalities.
Lawho Gouranger Naam Rey, a Srijit Mukherji directorial, dices within three timelines—from Mahaprabhu’s divine era, to colonial theatrics and transitioning to a modern film set. The film propels a sacred riddle of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s disappearance, with scattered clues spanning eras and lives—interestingly, the film shall breathe life into Nati Binodini, led by Subhashree Ganguly. Shimmering through theatrical magic and the stage, to witness Binodini once again remains nothing ordinary to the Bengali psyche.
On 25 January this year, we saw the forgotten artist being slid into long-overdue conversations with rekindled curiosity—and Lawho Gouranger Naam Rey unfolds another interpretation of the iconic woman on 25 December—it feels as if a cultural cycle is completing itself. Seeing Binodini awakened twice this year reaffirms the climactic comeback of Bangla cinema.
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Mitin: Ekti Khunir Sandhane—directed by Aridam Sil, stars Koel Mallick—Mitin, we know her, a familiar, rooted and sounds of someone who is our own. Yes, Mitin Mashi. Koel Mallick returned to the big screen after two years with Jongole Mitin Mashi (2023). Her presence has been dear to the audience. With Ekti Khunir Sandhane, Mitin Mashi returns.
The film also stars Shaheb Chatterjee, Madhurima Basak, Koneenica Banerjee and others. This time, Mitin remains more layered, as the actress says herself, “It feels awesome to be back as Mitin once again… it is such an inspiring character, a very strong-willed woman who is indomitable absolutely… when she starts investigating a case, she knows that she is going to win. This is the first time Mitin is investigating a murder mystery.
There are a lot of suspects, and this time, Mitin is way more layered. There is a lot of humour and humanity in it. As a person, Mitin is very compassionate… she has her head and heart in the right place. The story is very gripping and thrilling. With every film, different sides of Mitin are being revealed. The new Mitin film has a mature storyline. It’ll be way more fun to play Mitin this time,” as per the T2 Online.
As Park Street now anticipates the Christmas lights, Bangla cinema eyes a harmony. Colliding heritage, devotion and some detective grit, the year-ender comes with a rediscovery. Winter remains a nostalgia for Bengalis—Christmas is ‘Boro Din’ for us—and the three ‘big (Boro)’ cinematic zings call for a jingling homecoming.
Shatakshi Ganguly is a TPSJ alumnus currently interning with ThePrint. Views are personal.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)