Cast: Aishwarya Rai, Prosenjit, Raima Sen, Tota Raichaudhary
Director: Rituparno Ghosh
Producer: Shree Venkatesh films
Music: Debojyoti Mishra

Based on Rabindranath Tagore`s novel by the same name, Choker Bali is a period piece set in undivided Bengal of 1902-1905, when the raging political turmoil over the proposed partition of the State was at its peak. It is a psychological study of relationships between the sexes in a landed family, of shifting eternal triangles, complex motivations and subtle play of emotions; all of which have interesting parallels as well as contrasts to our times.

The story is about the relationships between four young people, two men and two women. Mahendra (Prosenjit) is a spoilt young dandy, the pride and despair of his widowed mother Rajlakshmi (Lily Chakraborty). Behari (Tota Roychowdhury), his closest friend is almost like another son to Rajlakshmi. Both young men are studying medicine. Like all doting mothers, Rajlakshmi wants to see her son happily married and she would like to see Behari settled as well. She has a girl in mind for Mahendra in the form of Binodini, the daughter of a friend of hers who comes from the same village as Rajlakshmi. Binodini (Aishwarya Rai) is beautiful and accomplished, but the whimsical Mahendra chooses to refuse her as a wife, having seen only her photograph. So does Behari. Binodini, therefore, finds another husband, only to be widowed within a year. Mahendra finally settles down with Ashalata (Raima Sen), a girl who was originally engaged to Behari. It is obvious from the beginning that despite their closeness, there is a spirit of competition between the two men. Mahendra wants what Behari has and expects Behari to give in to him. Perversely, Rajlakshmi is not pleased with the marriage, especially since Mahendra insists on spending all his time with his new wife and skipping classes at college. She storms out of the house and takes refuge in her childhood home.

There she meets Binodini and impulsively brings her back to Calcutta with her. The reasons why she does this are unclear - she might have wanted a companion to talk to, a diversion from her sister in law who lives in the same house and who, incidentally, happens to be Ashalata's aunt. Or perhaps because Binodini seduces her with small luxuries like English tea which she has learned to make from the nuns who taught her.

In Calcutta, Binodini meets the two young men who she might have married. She is also keenly aware of the life she has lost and resents the fact that the naïve Ashalata has what she cannot. The death of her husband has condemned Binodini to the deprived life of a widow, forced to shroud herself in white and eat a strict diet of vegetarian food, remarriage being forbidden by the strict Hindu codes of conduct.

She begins to manipulate Ashalata so as to get closer to the young men. She pits her knowledge of English and her sophistication against Ashalata's simplicity. She also uses her sexual experience gained over one year of marriage against Ashalata's relative innocence. Ashalata, on the other hand, is delighted to have someone else to confide in. She gives Binodini a pet name, 'Chokher Bali', literally meaning Sand in the Eye.

Binodini uses her intellect to intrigue Mahendra and Behari. She embarks on an affair with Mahendra. However the affair does not stay a secret for long. Ashalata accidentally discovers the love letters written by her husband to Binodini. She decides to bury her grief in the holy city of Benares, a place of refuge for lost souls and takes her aunt with her. Rajlakshmi, wise to Binodini's intrigues insults her and forces her to leave the house.

In despair, Binodini appeals to Behari, asking him to marry her or make her his mistress. Her status in society depends on being the possession of a man. Behari refuses, explaining that he cannot forgive her for her behaviour. Binodini decides to return to her country home. There she contemplates the options open to her - suicide or exile to Benares, and chooses Benares. Mahendra turns up at her doorstep and agrees to escort her to the holy city. He also agrees to a platonic relationship.

Benares is a kind of revelation for Binodini, a melting pot of death, despair and lost hopes set against the canvas of eternity. From Mahendra's boat she spies on this new world through her binoculars. She also catches a glimpse of a visibly pregnant Ashalata. This shocks her into remorse. She decides to renounce Mahendra. At this crucial moment, Behari arrives at Benares bringing the news of Rajlakshmi's death with him. He realises Binodini's plight and asks her to marry him.

Binodini agrees, but when the wedding day arrives, she is nowhere to be found. She leaves a note for Ashalata. In the note Binodini says that freedom is the final reality, the place where one belongs, the only thing that one can call one's own. She advises Ashalata to raise her child differently, open to the world and its influences, unlike her generation caged within four walls.

The three young people, who are now very different from when the film began, return to Calcutta. Behari loses himself in the nationalist movement joining the fight to free Indians, to build a nation, which they can truly call their own. The inference is that Binodini has found this reality for herself too. That a widow's struggle for freedom has parallels with a country's struggle for independence. Rabindranath Tagore's Chokher Bali is bold in theme and content and seems far ahead of its times. Director Rituparno Ghosh does full justice to Rabindranath Tagore's book. The humour comes across so does the gravity of certain situations including a young widow's needs for sexual pleasure. Like Sanjay Leela Bhansali who took cinematic liberties with Devdas Ritu too makes the climax different then the one that was in the book. Abhik Mukherjee's cinematography is brilliant. Check out the scene Aishwarya Rai swinging at the picnic spot with Raima behind her. Also the scene of Aishwarya Rai and Tota Roychaudhary strolling amidst the woods, making it look absolutely picture perfect.

Lily Chakraborty lives up to her character as Rajlakshmi making a very cute old widow. Tota Raichaudhary as Behari suits it to the T. He plays the character with an absolute calm demeanor bringing out its sensitivity and importance. Prosenjit as the dandy and whimsical medicine student is excellent. Raima Sen as the young bride brings out the vulnerability and innocence of Ashalata with extreme conviction and charm. Full marks to her! Last but not the least, Aishwarya Rai as the widowed Binodini is exceptional bringing out the complexity of the character through her laughter, eyes and tears. And who the day has to get married just abandons everything for the freedom of her country making her out to be one of the most unpredictable characters ever seen in Hindi cinema. The film is worth a watch!