Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish

Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish is a 2012 Bengali-language film written and directed by Rituparno Ghosh. The film premiered on 25 May 2012 at the New York Indian Film Festival.[1] The film tells the story of a choreographer who is struggling with his gender identity. It is loosely based on Rabindranath Tagore's play Chitra; which is Tagore's take on the story of Chitrāngadā, a character from the Mahābhārata.[2]

Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish
Theatrical poster of the film.
Directed byRituparno Ghosh
Written byRituparno Ghosh
Produced byShree Venkatesh Films
StarringRituparno Ghosh
Jisshu Sengupta
CinematographyAbhik Mukhopadhyay
Edited byArghyakamal Mitra
Music byDebojyoti Mishra
Release dates
Running time
135 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Plot

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Rudra Chatterjee (Rituparno Ghosh) has spent his life going against social convention. As a young man he defied his father's wishes, and became a choreographer instead of an engineer. As he prepares with his team to stage Tagore's Chitrangada, he meets Partho (Jisshu Sengupta) who is a drug-addict percussionist introduced to the team by the main dancer Kasturi (Raima Sen). Soon, Rudra develops chemistry with Partho and they fall deep into a passionate love affair. During the course of their relationship, they decide to adopt a child. But there is one problem: same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt children. So Rudra decides to go through a gender change treatment to embrace the womanhood he longs for. But will this surgery change his life and fulfill all his long-cherished dreams? The story ends with the line "Be What You Wish To Be".

Cast

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Awards

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Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards[4]

References

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  1. ^ "NYIFF 2012 Centerpiece : Chitrangada". New York Indian Film Festival. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  2. ^ Roychoudhury, Amborish. "Rituparno Ghosh and the enduring influence of Tagore". Mint.
  3. ^ "'Chitrangada' Indian premier at Osian festival". IBN Live. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  4. ^ "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
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