A captivating film, born from the unique perspective of a practicing physician and his professional encounters, has earned a coveted spot in the ‘Bengali Panorama’ section of the prestigious Kolkata International Film Festival.
Pinjar, the debut feature from 42-year-old Dr. Rudrajit Roy, a general medicine practitioner educated in Europe, masterfully portrays the myriad ‘prisons’ in which individuals find themselves—be it through gender, religion, poverty, societal customs, or the silence of their own struggles.
The film is slated for screening at the Kolkata International Film Festival from November 6-13. Beyond its local recognition, Pinjar has already garnered international attention, with an upcoming showing at the Asian Film Festival in Barcelona on November 3rd and a recent successful screening at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.
The film’s synopsis reveals a rich narrative woven around five distinct characters and a solitary wild bird, each a poignant reflection of the universal longing for freedom. We meet Tarak, a tired bird-catcher whose livelihood depends on caging the very essence he reveres—flight itself. His daughter, Jhimli, a spirited yet naive girl, witnesses this loss of freedom in the birds around her. Then there’s Paromita, a widowed schoolteacher, who meticulously maintains a disciplined routine as a shield against her profound loneliness. Shefali, an educated professional, silently endures her pain, concealing her bruises with a veneer of calm. Finally, Iqbal, a Muslim migrant, grapples with the challenge of finding his place in a city that offers him only a fragile sense of tolerance. A forest bird, stolen, sold, and confined to a cage, serves as a silent observer, its fate mirroring the human experiences of captivity intertwined throughout their intersecting lives.
Dr. Roy shared the genesis of his film, explaining, “The core idea struck me about ten years ago, during my early days as a doctor. I was on a train journey to a village when I saw a man carrying a small, towel-covered cage. A parrot was peeking out, and that image stuck with me. It felt deeply symbolic, representing the invisible cages that confine both humans and animals. The narrative blossomed from my own life experiences and, significantly, from the stories of my patients.”
This dedicated physician, who works as a private consultant, carved out a three-week window from his demanding schedule to bring Pinjar to life. He recounted, “Life is fleeting, and I’m committed to pursuing what genuinely fulfills me. Throughout Pinjar’s production, I dedicated my nights to the film, often after completing my clinic and hospital duties. My team offered incredible support. When filming began, I finally took a 21-day leave—my first in two years—a period I had carefully saved specifically for this project.”
The 2-hour and 17-minute Bengali-Hindi production features a talented ensemble cast, including Mamata Shankar, Joy Sengupta, Satakshi Nandy, and Sagnik Mukherjee.
Dr. Roy revealed that a pivotal experience during the COVID-19 lockdown heavily influenced Pinjar. He shared, “I assisted a Muslim man during the lockdown when others hesitated to help. I guided him to government shelter in a hotel and ensured he received essential medical care, leading to a successful recovery. Such incidents reinforced my conviction that humanity transcends identity. Many individuals I encountered during that period further solidified my belief that compassion and empathy are our truest strengths, regardless of faith or background.”
Reflecting on his twin passions, Dr. Roy stated, “My love for cinema developed through watching world films. Simultaneously, I always knew I wanted to be a doctor. For me, medicine and cinema are intrinsically linked by empathy. One profession heals the body, while the other possesses the power to mend the mind and soul. Through my filmmaking, I aspire to tell stories that can deeply move, offer comfort, and perhaps even provide a form of healing to viewers.”