Souvik Saha
Lawho Gouranger Naam Re, directed by Srijit Mukherji, is an ambitious Bengali film that explores the mysterious disappearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through a layered, multi-timeline narrative. The film moves across three different periods—Chaitanya’s era, Noti Binodini’s time, and a present-day investigation. While the concept, promos, and music generate strong initial curiosity, the film ultimately struggles to deliver an emotionally engaging cinematic experience.
What Works in Lawho Gouranger Naam Re
One of the film’s strongest aspects is its conceptual ambition. The philosophical theories surrounding Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are intriguing and presented in a fresh, intellectual manner. The gloomy atmosphere suits the subject well, and shooting at real locations like the Jagannath Temple adds authenticity. Makeup and costume design also help establish the different time periods convincingly.
What Doesn’t Work
The biggest drawback of Lawho Gouranger Naam Re is its fragmented storytelling. The three timelines fail to blend organically, resulting in confusion rather than curiosity. After a promising opening, the film slows down considerably and becomes repetitive, with very little suspense leading up to the climax.
Visually, budget limitations are clearly visible. Repetitive frames and stage-style enactments reduce cinematic impact. The climax, in particular, feels confusing and emotionally hollow, failing to provide a satisfying payoff. Overuse of filters, unnecessary dialogues, and poorly developed character relationships further weaken the narrative.
Star Performances
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Subhashree Ganguly delivers a decent performance as Noti Binodini.
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Dibyajyoti Dutta brings calm intensity and spiritual sincerity to his portrayal of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
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Bratya Basu remains dependable as Girish Ghosh.
Performances by Isha Saha, Indranil, and Sushmita Chatterjee feel either incomplete or unnecessary. Jisshu Sengupta’s investigation track starts strong but becomes repetitive as the film progresses.
Direction
Director Srijit Mukherji deserves credit for attempting something bold and intellectually driven. However, the lack of emotional depth, weak pacing, and uneven screenplay prevent the film from reaching its full potential. The film feels more like an idea-driven experiment than a gripping cinematic journey.
Music & Background Score
The music album is the film’s strongest pillar. Compositions by Indradeep Dasgupta, Kabir Suman, and Arijit Singh elevate several scenes and add emotional weight, often compensating for the film’s narrative shortcomings.
Final Verdict – CineKolkata
Lawho Gouranger Naam Re is a film with ideas worth discussing but execution that fails to engage. While intellectually inclined viewers may appreciate its layered themes, general audiences are likely to find it slow and disengaging. Despite its bold vision, the film suffers from weak storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of emotional connection.
⭐ CineKolkata Rating: 2/5
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