WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Staying true to yourself, your culture, your beliefs, your heritage, and especially to your dreams. Nothing can be more integral when it comes to that which we pursue than to have ingrained within us all the passion, fortitude, and energy infused in it that will overcome any obstacle. Yet, when the barrier of gender overshadows these aspirations, does familial honor to stay with tradition supersede the desire to rise above? In the rural outskirts of Bengal, a man named Ali (Janardan Ghosh) carries on the legacy of his line of work as a Bahurupi, street cosplayers who are Muslim by birth, but dress up as Hindu deities. When his physical condition no longer permits him to remain active, he makes every effort to pass along the duty to his deeply reluctant son Aslam (Subhankar Mohanta), while his daughter Aasia (Madhurima Tarafder) pines to take the role herself.
Next, my Mind:
Focusing its themes around those who desperately try to exist between the not always so clearly, or rightly, predetermined and/or defined lines of ethnic, religious, and societal norms placed upon them by the larger, generalized and often ostracizing world view surrounding them, this 29-minute short film effort from co-writers/directors/executive producers/editors Sarmistha Maiti and Rajdeep Paul along with producer Anjan Bose not only addresses these grander, weightier topics but likewise delves into notions of trying to overcome poverty, being persecuted or ridiculed for your ideologies, the nature of humiliation, the bonds of family, gender roles, and the potential loss of artistic custom. It’s the beauty of life itself, what it is to simply be a human being, that ultimately forms the foundational principals illustrated as we are taken into the hard-fought reality of Ali and his two children as the struggle to survive on the periphery of a community that effectively treats them as more a curiosity to be supported or neglected, but not truly “seen”.
It is within this sphere of mild disdain or sheer unappreciative disregard that Ali has plied his given skills as a Bahurupi, at least managing to withstand the isolation in spirit and mind he encounters in order to make enough for his family to exist. But, as those times become harder for him to physically bear, the natural progression is to pass the torch to his son, being that their craft is also primarily and not uncommonly dominated by males. However, in the midst of this, he finds his daughter is the one who wishes to take on the task which, as one would guess, doesn’t fit the communal mold they reside in, even if on the outside of it. It’s a potent viewpoint to see anyone who’s willing and able to grasp onto a thankless job with fervor for the sake of their family, but to see that ambition attempt to be quashed by thoughts of the disharmony it might cause is heartbreaking and maddening. But, it is exactly this exploration that make the film have its intended messages and objectives enhanced to a point where by the time the jarringly haunting finale comes about, you’re soul is crying to see absolute change, or as the film’s title would suggest, a metamorphosis that will radically alter the paradigms in place and create new ones.
One last theme the effort takes on is an always heated issue–religious fundamentalism and the volatility it creates, which speaks for itself when watching this narrative unfold and further calls to mind the real need for reassessment of certain methadologies of handling disagreements when it comes to the confrontations between those of differing faiths. That said, this critic loves films with a point like this, and I find a lot of this style of filmmaking within the South Asian circles, as given the powerful medium cinema represents, it should be a platform not to get overtly preachy, but instead demonstrate a willingness to showcase aspects, concepts, and facets of the world that need exposing in order to raise awareness and make us think more about how we conduct ourselves as human beings. All of this is quite conclusively and with an unshrinking, committed, and persuasive resolve presented in an overall truncated timeframe that allows for all of it to be considered fully well after the film itself is over.
Ghosh gives a solid performance in his role as the father Ali, a man wholly dedicated to his chosen art form, a point of pride for him. Yet, when necessity dictates to pass it along he is met with heavy resistance from the one he desires to take the mantle and unanticipated, though initially hidden, enthusiasm from the one who is forbidden to. Watching what unfolds between Ali and his children is both impactful and heartrending, all played with a mix of fiery and subdued emotional nuances by Ghosh. Mohanta likewise turns in a suitably sturdy performance in his role as Ali’s son Aslam, a young man who has more than his own share of weight being placed upon him by his father to become the next in line to cosplay. Fearful of ridicule and the associated indignities that will accompany the task, he additionally dabbles in a relationship that could spell disaster as well. It’s a character we aren’t sure will be heroic or tragic, and even when we find out eventually, Mohanta imbues the role with youthful vigor that befits Aslam’s familial and social dilemmas
Then there is Tarafder in her performance as Ali’s obedient yet willful and independent-minded daughter Aasia, a young woman who values the cosplay legacy her father is wishing to pass along and wants nothing more than to fulfill his overall wishes to see a family member take over. Defiant to the point of completely ignoring her father’s warnings and adamant oppositions, her journey becomes one of enlightenment, fulfilment, and perseverance in the face of adversity, with Tarafder cementing her place as the ultimate emotional and thematic core portrayed here with affecting strength. In total, “Kayantar (Metamorphosis)” is a statement to the world about the power of hate and intolerance, standing for belief against all odds, and illustrating the overwhelming capability of the human spirit to shine brightly in a societal darkness that needs to be transfigured.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
