This is easily one of Ray's best movies. It tells the story of Siddhartha, searching for a job, against the background of the febrile Kolkata of 1970. There are few twists and turns in the plot, but each scene unpeels a layer of Siddhartha's character, or shines a light on some little aspect of his city. It has the same delicate beauty as Charulata, though Siddhartha is a more expressive character than Charu. We know Charu through her looks and silences; we know Siddhartha through his thoughts and dreams. This is Satyajit Ray's answer to the "angry young man" films that became so popular in India in the 1970s. Dhritiman Chatterjee gives a simmering performance as Siddharta, and the supporting cast is also assured. It is a tale of frustration, and its precious moments of calm are all the more moving for that.
Review of Pratidwandi
