You need to watch this Bengali drama by Anjan Dutta that triggers nostalgia

Films that trigger nostalgia are a portrait of the past. They teleport us to a certain time, allowing a glimpse of dated social norms. And significantly, they alter the way we perceive the world and navigate the circumstances presented to us. Anjan Dutt’s compelling family drama Dutta VS Dutta is surely one such gem and it’s our Lost and Found for today.

The film, which released a decade ago, revolves around the Dutta family, who’s patriarch happens to be a lawyer of modest means and a few clients. Extramarital affairs, estranged daughters and a palatial zamindar house occupied by residents who can barely afford enough to get by. And yet, when the prodigal son returns from boarding school as his father can’t afford the exorbitant fees, grand gestures hope to eclipse the family’s financial woes. This film manages to pull you in different directions and conjures a range of emotions – from towering highs to crushing lows, from the uncertainty of first love to the audacity of coupling with a married woman. This film has it all to keep you invested through its runtime, even while some of the reveals may be a tad heartbreaking.

Set against the Naxal movement in Kolkata, the film is said to be partly Anjan Dutt’s autobiographical account. The film’s youngest character, who hopes to become an actor someday, manages to bag his first big break in a Mrinal Sen directorial may be a big, fat easter egg. Especially considering Dutt himself made his debut in a Mrinal Sen film. The singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker also churns out some melodious numbers here. His cover of Tagore’s Bhalobeshe Sakhi and Uthogo Bharatalakkhi are surely the most memorable songs from this album.

Dutta VS Dutta opened to mixed reviews when it was released a decade ago. But we feel it’s surely an underrated gem that you need to add to your watchlist right away.

Well that's the OTTplay Lost and Found for today, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Kunal Guha