Debshishu
Utpalendu Chakrabarty's drama is a stark and unflinching portrayal of superstition and fanaticism in rural India starring a mesmerising Smita Patil.
Bengali director Utpalendu Chakrabarty's Debshishu is a stark and unflinching portrayal of superstition and fanaticism in rural India. The film follows a couple, played by the incomparable Smita Patil and Sadhu Meher and their encounter with a miracle-performing child god. Patil delivers a tour de force performance, embodying the strength and despair of a woman forced to endure unimaginable hardship. The muddy rural landscapes create a sense of desolation that is palpable throughout the film. Made on a low budget, Debshishu was one of Patil’s last roles.
Content Guidance
Contains themes of child exploitation and disability discrimination.
Director: Utpalendu Chakrabarty
Premiere status: UK Premiere of Digital Restoration
Running time: 100 minutes
Production year: 1987
Country: India
Language: Hindi
Subtitles: English
Print source: National Film Development Corporation of India
Cast: Smita Patil, Om Puri, Sadhu Meher
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