Madam Sengupta Movie Review: A Bengali Crime Thriller That Struggles to Deliver

Introduction: A Promising Thriller That Falls Short

 

Madam Sengupta, directed by Sayantan Ghosal, is a Bengali crime drama that attempts to blend psychological grief with political intrigue and literary references. Starring Rituparna Sengupta and Rahul Bose, the film explores the journey of a mother seeking justice after her daughter’s murder. Unfortunately, despite a powerful premise and strong visuals, the movie falters due to inconsistent storytelling and underdeveloped characters.

 

 

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Plot Summary: When Grief Meets Investigation

 

Anurekha Sengupta (played by Rituparna Sengupta), a noted cartoonist, is devastated after her daughter’s mysterious murder. As she begins to investigate the case herself, she discovers a disturbing pattern: each murder seems to be inspired by characters from Sukumar Ray’s Abol Tabol. Teaming up with a journalist (Rahul Bose), she tries to untangle the connections—but the answers may be more personal than expected.

 

 

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Performance Review: A Mixed Bag of Talent

 

Rituparna Sengupta delivers a passionate and intense performance, successfully portraying a grieving yet determined mother.

 

Rahul Bose is restrained, but his character lacks development and depth.

 

Kaushik Sen and Ananya Chatterjee are largely wasted in roles that could have had more impact.

 

Raunak Dey Bhowmick, in his debut, brings some freshness but is not given enough material to stand out.

 

 

 

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Positives:

 

Visually engaging cinematography capturing dark corners of Kolkata.

 

A bold attempt to use Abol Tabol as a thematic device.

 

Rituparna Sengupta’s compelling screen presence.

 

 

 

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Negatives:

 

Slow and inconsistent pacing, especially in the second half.

 

Literary references feel forced rather than integral.

 

Weak character development and lack of chemistry between leads.

 

Predictable twists and an underwhelming climax.

 

 

 

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Direction & Music: More Style Than Substance

 

Sayantan Ghosal’s direction shows ambition, but the film lacks the tight editing and screenplay required for a strong thriller. The background score is minimalistic and blends well, but cannot elevate the tension that the narrative demands.

 

 

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Final Verdict:

 

Madam Sengupta is a film with a strong setup and a stellar lead performance, but it doesn’t quite land the punch it promises. Despite artistic intent and visual flair, the weak script and dragged-out plot make it a watch for niche audiences only.