Watch A River Called Titas

A River Called Titas is a 1973 Bengali film, directed by the renowned filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak. The movie is based on a novel by the same name written by Adwaita Mallabarman. The film narrates the story of a small village named Titas situated on the banks of the river Titas in East Bengal (now Bangladesh). The movie primarily revolves around the lives of the fishermen of this village and their struggle against poverty, natural calamities, and social norms.

The protagonist of the story is Kishore, a young fisherman who falls in love with a beautiful girl named Basanti. However, their happiness is short-lived when Basanti is kidnapped by a group of dacoits. Kishore is devastated by the loss of his love and takes refuge in the river Titas. He becomes a recluse and spends most of his time fishing in the river. Meanwhile, Basanti gives birth to a son, and the child is adopted by a childless couple in another village.

The movie follows the lives of Kishore, Basanti, and their son as they face different challenges throughout their lives. Kishore, who has become a legendary fisherman, becomes a mentor to a young boy named Bose. Bose is an orphan who is a skilled fisherman but has been abandoned by the villagers due to his low-caste status. Kishore recognizes Bose's talent and helps him improve his fishing techniques. However, Bose faces discrimination from the other fishermen and is forced to leave Titas to make a living.

Basanti, on the other hand, becomes a victim of society's norms. After being kidnapped, she is forced to live with a man who mistreats her. She becomes a prostitute and even bears a child with her abuser. Basanti's son, who is unaware of his mother's identity, meets Kishore and tells him the story of his birth. Kishore realizes that the child is his own and becomes determined to find Basanti.

The movie showcases the various facets of life in a small fishing village in East Bengal. The villagers' everyday life revolves around the river Titas. The river provides them with their livelihood, but it also takes away their loved ones during natural calamities. The movie also portrays the stark reality of social discrimination prevalent in villages. The lower-caste fishermen are treated as outcasts and are not allowed to enter the village temples. Women are mistreated and forced to live in oppressing conditions.

The movie's cinematography is noteworthy, as the director has extensively used the river as a metaphor for life. The river is portrayed as a powerful force of nature that cannot be tamed, yet provides sustenance to the villagers. The performances of the actors, especially those playing the roles of Kishore and Basanti, are noteworthy.

Overall, A River Called Titas is a poignant and emotional movie that captures the essence of life in a small fishing village in East Bengal. It portrays the struggles of the poor and marginalized sections of society and highlights the theme of love, loss, and redemption. The movie is an excellent example of Indian parallel cinema and is a must-watch for anyone interested in Bengali or Indian cinema.