Watch Chiriakhana

Chiriakhana is a 1967 Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a novel by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The movie starring Uttam Kumar in the lead role, portrays a crime thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout. The film also features notable performances by Kalipada Chakraborty and Nripati Chatterjee.

The movie, set in the 1940s, revolves around Pradosh C. Mitter, a private investigator who is hired by a wealthy businessman to solve the mystery of his missing daughter. The story starts with a fateful encounter when Mitter, popularly known as Feluda, meets with an old friend, Dr. R. K. Bose, who is seeking his help with a mysterious case. Bose's house has been burgled, and his servant has been hit with a blunt object. However, nothing valuable seems to have been stolen, except a picture of a girl named Mala. Feluda is intrigued by the case and agrees to investigate.

The story takes a twist when a wealthy businessman, Nishanath Sen, approaches Feluda with a new case. Sen's daughter, Ginni, has been missing for months, and the police have failed to find any leads. Sen has a strong conviction that someone in his family is involved in her disappearance, but he needs concrete proof to take action. Sen's personality and demeanor confuse Feluda as he finds it difficult to assess his client's character.

To solve the case, Feluda goes undercover, acting as a caterer to get close to Sen's family, hoping to unearth clues about Ginni's whereabouts. Feluda is assisted by his cousin Tapesh, also known as Topshe, and his friend and writer Jatayu. The investigation uncovers a web of deceit, lies, and hidden relationships that complicates the case even further.

The film showcases the complexity of human relationships, greed, and the consequences of one's actions. The characters are layered and have their unique motivations for their actions, which adds depth to the story. Ray carefully crafts the narrative, build-up suspense and tension, which culminates in a thrilling finale. The film's twists and turns keep the audience engaged, guessing, and on the edge of their seats.

Chiriakhana is also notable for its cinematography, sound design, and background score, which elevates the film's atmosphere and tension. The visuals are simple yet evocative, capturing the essence of the 1940s Kolkata. The film's background score is haunting, and the sound design is meticulous, bringing the characters and their actions to life.

Overall, Chiriakhana is a compelling crime thriller that stands the test of time. The film's themes and characters are relatable and relevant even today, making it a classic in the Bengali film industry. Ray's direction, Kumar's performance, and the film's technical aspects received critical acclaim and cemented Chiriakhana's position as one of the best Bengali films of all time.

Chiriakhana is a 1967 adventure movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.