Investigative thrillers based on serial killings have become quite common now, especially after the cult Baishe Shrabon (2011). Srijit Mukherji has tried to do different things since then (as much as creating a cop universe), and in case you want to experience Baishe Shrabon yet again in a more compact and no nonsense way, Pratim D Gupta's Chaalchitro is just for you. Chaalchitro stars Tota Roychowdhury, Shantanu Maheshwari, Anirban Chakraborty, Ziaul Faruq Apurba, Swastika Dutta, Raima Sen and Indrajeet Bose in lead roles, with Bratya Basu having a special appearance.
Basic Plot- Four cops with different personal lives try to catch a serial killer who seems to copy the pattern of a similar serial killer who haunted the streets of Kolkata twelve years ago.
Positives
Performances and Character Design
Performances have been nice in the film with Anirban Chakraborty, Tota Roychowdhury standing out and Bratya Basu (even in a special appearance) standing out. Rest of the cast performances have been nice overall but I personally feel Raima Sen is stuck in 2011. She plays the dissatisfied wife of a depressed cop (a role she always plays) and has the same expressions everywhere. She's the only exception among the overall good performances. Also, the character designing have been quite good. All the cops get their personal lives (very different from one another) embroiled in the case where some relationships get better, and some take a very unfortunate toll. The balancing between two sides of life has been shown very well in the film, which also enhances the psychological factor of the film.
Direction and Screenplay
Writer director Pratim D Gupta has crafted things very nicely in these departments. Although the serial killing story isn't new at all, it' the fresh perspectives and a tight screenplay that gives this film an edge. The director tries to bring in characters, representing all sections of society, into the film and justifies their deeds to prove the fact that all have their own places in the society and the society does not consist of only the privileged people. This is a good addition which gives the film a morally dynamic edge for sure. Whether or not it's going to change the society is for anyone among the audience to debate, but the idea and the presentation definitely deserves a praise. The direction is good in most of the places (except for a few) and when coupled with the engaging screenplay, it promises a nice and taut experience. Also, the investigation portions are shown in detail which often goes missing in films having similar themes. The detailing in the actions and the 'way of approach' of the police makes this film an engaging watch. There are a couple of moments which felt predictable in the second half, but the director is smart enough to make a comeback every time we feel we have figured out a scene as intended, and this deserves a thumb's up. By the way, one such scene will definitely remind the viewers of the action film Dhoom (2004) but there's nothing to complain about it.
Technicalities and Music
Technicalities have been up to the mark as well, starting from color grading, to editing and camera work. There is an action scene in the second half which although creates a significant shift, has been crafted well with some nice camera movement and editing. It's a sudden scale up for sure but has been done with improvisation and thus looks nice. The music department has done a fine job, with just one song (that too situational) and a good bgm to keep up with the somber theme of the film.
Underwhelming Aspects
Ending
The ending isn't bad as such with the main crux getting revealed and a good twist in the story, but it could have been better for sure. The climax is good but it paved way for the prevention of the main character's family falling apart more than the consequence that the main villain would face for the gruesome murders he committed. This somehow makes the film dip a little towards the end but it's a very complete story otherwise. The consequences with the culprit is already known and predictable but just a minimal start to the consequences being unfolded was required for sure.
Conclusion
All in all, Chaalchitro is a pretty emotional and gusty murder mystery thriller which promises a good time and explores human instinct and psychology as well. It's a well crafted film, which in spite of having a 'happy ending', shows the main character (at the end) getting the treatment of his misdeed that he committed due to his immaturity in the past. All the characters shown in the film have been surprisingly justified with their act, and the villain is also not an exception!
Watch Out For
A very impactful Bratya Basu in the first half.
WTF Recommendation
7.5/10