Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited thriller suspense movie ‘Memsaab’ has finally hit theatres with its premier held at PVR, Kalpana Square, Bhubaneswar on May 22.
Several prominent producers, directors, and technicians from the Ollywood industry gathered to watch the film along with the movie’s star cast which included actress Priya Choudhury, actor Sambhab Mansingh, veteran artist Choudhury Jay Prakash Das, and many others.
What the movie is about
‘Memsaab’ is a psychological murder mystery thriller set against the haunting backdrop of an old colonial bungalow nestled amid the tea gardens of Assam.
The story revolves around Nikhil, a photographer who arrives at the bungalow for a photography assignment. There, he meets Sophie, a once-celebrated model who now lives a secluded life under the shadow of fear imposed by her influential husband Avinash, a wealthy tea estate owner.
Through his photography, Nikhil not only attempts to help Sophie rediscover her lost identity and former self but also tries to get closer to her. As time passes, sparks begin to fly between them.
Just when everything seems to be falling into place, a woman’s dead body is discovered in the bungalow, turning the story on its head. Soon another murder takes place in the same bungalow, deepening the mystery. A senior officer N C Pati takes charge of the investigation, unraveling layers of suspense hidden within the walls of the bungalow.
The narrative intricately weaves together the lives of a photographer, a powerful tea tycoon, and a former model trapped in silent isolation, sure to leave audiences hooked to their seats.
Produced by Dhoon Musical in association with Cinemascope Solutions and Om Graphics Entertainment, the film has been shot across Assam, Darjeeling, and Odisha. The film has been directed by Bishwabhushan Mahapatra and Kaliprasad Mishra while Kaliprasad Mishra has handled production responsibilities, while Bishwabhushan has served as the Director of Photography.
Anil Yadav is the co-producer.The story, screenplay, and dialogues have been written by Amit Kumar Dash. Editing has been done by Rashmi Ranjan Dash and Biswa Ranjan Subuddhi, while cinematography has been handled by K. Sunil and Manoj Patra. The music has been composed by Abhijit Tripathy, with sound design and background score by Bani Mohanty. Publicity and media promotion have been overseen by Pranaya Jethi, Creative Head of Media Planner.
Performances
After a four-year hiatus, Priya makes a comeback with this film. She was last seen ‘Lage Prema Nazar’. Her portrayal of character ‘Sophie’ in ‘Memsaab’ is convincing. Sambhab Mansingh delivers an excellent job as Nikhil. Choudhury Jay Prakash Das as the senior cop once again proves why he remains a directors’ choice for powerful character roles. Chittaranjan Tripathy as Avinash brings variety to his acting and adds layer to the narrative. Satya Prakash Jena, Bhaolina Barua, Dipan Da, and Bishwabhushan also added flavour to the narrative with their acting skills.
Review
Both halves of the film were equally engaging. However, the pace gathers steam in second half when the senior cop tries to connect the dots to solve the mystery. Yet, I must say the story telling could have been tighter and gripping, at places. In one scene where Sophie is being quizzed, her calm and sweat-free appearance slightly dents the realism.
While walking out of the theatre, I had still a few loose ends remained untied, making me to believe that the makers may have a sequel up their sleeve.
Nevertheless, I must say the team deserves a big pat on the back for their sincere effort. After watching the film, audiences showered it with praise and expressed happiness over the recent wave of quality Odia cinema being delivered one after another.
