The Diary of West Bengal Review: Arshin Mehta and Yajur Marwah starrer will leave you terrified with raw, gritty yet real portrayal

The Diary of West Bengal

Director: Sanoj Mishra

Cast: Yajur Marwah, Arshin Mehta, Ramendra Chakarwarti, Gauri Shankar

Where to Watch: Theatre

Rating: 

The narrative of The Diary Of West Bengal is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Bangladesh genocide. It revolves around the alleged infiltration of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi extremists into West Bengal and the subsequent socio-political unrest that happened.

The story centres around Suhasini Bhattacharya (Arshin Mehta) a Hindu woman from Bangladesh who has to flee after her parents are murdered in a genocide. Islamic radicals help her cross the Sundarbans, but their real goal is to convert her to Islam and use her to increase votes for a political party in West Bengal’s upcoming elections. Well, in midst of this she becomes a victim of Love Jihad. A ray of hope comes to her when when Atik Khan (Yajur Marwah) helps her settle in a new town under the Hindu name Prateek. But, things turn upside down when Suhasini discovers that allies she considers close too have an agenda.

Sunoj Mishra, through his writing and direction, has presented the hard-hitting reality in an utmost engaging way. One of the best elements about the film is that it is a well-researched project and the detailing is just mind-blowing. Right from the blood-curdling shouts and bloodshed on the streets and inside homes, the filmmaker’s haunting narrative leaves you numb. The cinematographer too carves a narrative that’s brutal and disturbing with the help of his lens. The background score adds depth to Sunoj’s storytelling.

When it comes to performances, Arshin portrays Suhasini’s plight with conviction. From suffocation within mob, raising question to crying out loud, she nails every scene. While rest of the cast have performed what was expected.

Overall, the Diary of West Bengal is a bold exploration of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis, Illegal Infiltration, and the controversial phenomenon of “Love Jihad”.