Bhubaneswar: In an age when children chase dreams across continents and elderly parents are left staring at silent walls, a haunting question lingers in many lonely flats: Who will shoulder my bier when I am gone?
This unsettling reality finds a poignant voice in the Odia mid-length film ‘Chaarikaandha’, produced under the banner of Ritupriya Production. The film recently hit the big screen, with its premiere held at PVR Cinemas in Bhubaneswar.
At the heart of the 37-minute film is Baidyanath Mishra, an aging widower living alone while his children and grandchildren are settled abroad. Though materially secure, he is emotionally adrift. A single thought gnaws at him day and night—whether at home or sipping tea at a roadside stall: “Will my bier receive four shoulders? Will my children return to carry me to my final resting place?”
Directed by Biswanath Rath, who also helmed the story, screenplay, and dialogues, the film wastes no time in striking a chord. Rath’s storytelling is tight, his direction measured yet moving. The climax, in particular, lands like a lump in the throat—quiet yet devastating.
I felt fortunate in that I was invited to its premier show at PVR Cinemas, Utkal Galleria. After the end of the film as I was coming out of the hall, I noticed the eyes of most viewers got moist.
The film clearly struck home. Producer Atish Kumar Rout has made a heartfelt attempt to bring this touching short story to the big screen for Odia audiences. “Our film is a reflection of the growing anxiety among elderly parents about their last rites. We have done a humble attempt to address the scenario. We hope viewers will accept it,” observed Rout.
Rath has not just directed a film; he has held up a mirror to society. “To get stories for my films, I always look around me. I always take inspirations from what is happening around me. And an incident during Covid shook me to the core. That was the spark, I knew this story had to be told,” said a visibly elated Rath.
Senior actor Shakti Baral delivers a tour de force as Baidyanath Mishra. His portrayal is restrained yet powerful, making the character’s loneliness almost palpable. Baral himself described it as one of the finest roles of his career—and it’s easy to see why. A hat’s off to him.
The supporting cast also pulls its weight. Sushil Mishra as Baidyanath Mishra’s friend Ramakanta, Gaurab Mohanty as tea stall owner, Satabdi Suryasnatha as cab driver Soni, Pravanjan Mishra as Pravanjanm another friend of Baidyanath Mishra and Shibani Khara as Baidyanath’s domestic help Laxmi gave all breathe authenticity into their roles.
Besides producer Atish Kumar Raut, director Biswanath Rath and actor Shakti Baral, creative publicity designer Shyama Prasad Mishra, actors Satabdi Suryasnata, Susil Mishra, Gaurab Mohanty, Shivani Khara, Pravanjan Mishra, Riddhi Parida, Suruchika Mohapatra, Namita Sahu, Nityananda Rout, Raj S. Padhi, Soumya Ranjan Nayak, Sanskriti Swain, S. Rajendra, Soumya R. Sarangi, editor Veer Kumar Nanda, music director and singer Amit Yuvraaj, sync sound engineer Dileswar Pradhan, media planner Pranaya Jethi, many film lovers and critics were also present at the premier show.
Beyond its emotional resonance, ‘Chaarikaandha’ has carved a niche for itself on the festival circuit. It has screened in more than 46 national and international film festivals and has won over 22 awards. It was also screened as the sole Indian entry in the mid-length film category at the Hokkaido International Film Festival in Japan and received special recognition.
Now, it has set up another milestone by becoming the country’s first mid-length film to release in theaters.
One thing that ‘Chaarikaandha’ reminds us that while skyscrapers may rise and flights may soar, human bonds cannot be outsourced.Verdict: A must watch
