Alik Sukh

Alik Sukh
Theatrical release poster
Directed byShiboprosad Mukherjee
Nandita Roy
Written bySuchitra Bhattacharya
Screenplay byNandita Roy
Based on
Alik Sukh
by Suchitra Bhattacharya
Produced byWindows Production
StarringDebshankar Haldar
Rituparna Sengupta
Sohini Sengupta
CinematographySirsha Ray
Edited byMalay Laha
Music byAnindya Chatterjee
Nachiketa Chakraborty
Release date
  • 19 July 2013 (2013-07-19)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Alik Sukh (English: Unreal Happiness) is a 2013 Bengali psychological thriller film directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy.[1][2] It is based an eponymous novel by Suchitra Bhattacharya.[3][4] The film starrs Debshankar Haldar, Rituparna Sengupta and Sohini Sengupta among others.[5][6]

Alik Sukh opened to mixed reviews from the critics and positive reviews from the audience.[7] It ran in theatres over 50 days.[8] On 15 September 2013, it was released in multiple states across India, outside of West Bengal.[9]

Plot

Dr. Kingshuk Guha, a renowned gynecologist, finds himself in a professional crisis when one of his patients, Kabita Mondol, dies on the operating table while he is away purchasing a luxury apartment for his family. Kabita's enraged husband and relatives attempt to mob the hospital. Upon hearing the news, Kingshuk's wife, Rumi, rushes to the hospital to support him. There, she sees Kabita's corpse lying unattended in the empty operating theater and begins to imagine that the dead woman is communicating with her.

Though well-off, happily married, and pregnant with their second child, Rumi starts to question her right to happiness, given that her husband is responsible for depriving another family of their loved one. She becomes emotionally distant from Kingshuk, who refuses to accept responsibility for Kabita's death. In turn, Kingshuk grows frustrated with Rumi's lack of support as he faces an investigation by a medical committee and a compensation claim of Rs 1,000,000 from Kabita's family. Their relationship deteriorates to the point where they stop speaking to each other, and eventually, Rumi leaves with their son to stay with her parents.

Kingshuk eventually reaches an out-of-court settlement with Kabita's family for Rs 300,000. Relieved and hoping to reconcile with Rumi, he calls her and informs her that he has "bought off the patient’s family." Rumi, devastated by Kingshuk's callousness and the lack of justice for Kabita, suffers a fall shortly after the call, leading to a miscarriage and severe abdominal hemorrhaging.

In a cruel twist of fate, Kingshuk finds himself in the same desperate position as Kabita's husband, as the medical team at the local hospital takes its time attending to Rumi. She survives, and a remorseful Kingshuk seeks her forgiveness, vowing to make amends. From Rumi's perspective, Kabita finally finds closure, and hopes for a happier future emerge.

Cast

Source:[10]

Production

Development

In an interview to The Times of India, director Shiboprosad Mukherjee said that although the film is based on a novel, it was influenced by his father's death on 15 April 1994. Regarding his personal experience regarding the lives of doctors, he said,

It was Poila Baishak and my father suddenly complained of chest pain. I rushed him to a para-doctor and he asked us to shift Baba (father) to a hospital immediately as he had suffered a heart attack. I called an ambulance and took him to a hospital only to find that there were no attendants or doctors around as it was Poila Boishak! The few junior doctors present there couldn't do anything. When I finally got hold of a doctor, he was leaving for the day. He told me since it was a festive day, the hospital was low on staff and he couldn't help us. My father breathed his last that night. Whether it was family obligations or something else that was going through the doctor's mind, is a question that still haunts me as I lost my father for it.[11]

Casting

After the Aparna Sen directorial Paromitar Ek Din (2000), this marked the second collaboration between Rituparna Sengupta and Sohini Sengupta.[12] This also marked the first feature film for theatre artist Debshankar Haldar, in which he played the lead role.[13][14]

Marketing

Alik Sukh's music launch event was held at the Bengal Club.[15] The premiere of the film was held at Priya Cinema Hall in South Kolkata. The event was attended by previous collaborators with the director duo and other eminent actors from the Bengali film industry.[16]

Soundtrack

Soundtrack of Alik Sukh has been composed by Anindya Chatterjee and Nachiketa Chakraborty.[17][18] The lyrics have been penned by Anindya Chatterjee.[19]

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."MBBS"Anindya Chatterjee4:17
2."Ke Jane Thikana"Nachiketa Chakraborty3:47
3."Na Re Na Ore Mon"Nachiketa Chakraborty4:24
4."Raat Jaye"Anindya Chatterjee4:07
Total length:16:35

Reception

Critical reception

Madhusree Ghosh of Times of India rated the film 3.5/5 stars and noted "The credit of the film goes to the directors for being so selective in their choice of good actors." She appreciated Sohini's theatrical touches and body language, Debshankar's seasoned acting, Rituparna's vulnerable acting, Kharaj and Biswanath's supporting performances, and the direction but bemoaned Sohini's portrayal as Kabita, excessive melodrama and the forced scary background score.[20]

Dr. Kunal Sarkar reviewed the film for Sangbad Pratidin and opined "Overall, it is a well-made, emotionally rich, and entertaining film." He appreciated the direction, their vision in presenting a sensitive issue associated with the medical profession on screen, the cinematography, background score and the storyline but bemoaned the weak acting.[21]

Dibyendu Paul of Rhododendron reviewed the film and wrote "The writer tries excessively hard to bring out a startling feel. We’re certain that was not what the executives planned." He praised Debshankar's acting, the performances of Rituparna and Sohini, and Biswanath and Kharaj's performance in their respective supporting roles but criticized the poor writing of the character of Kabita, which he termed as "creepy and exaggerated".[22] Abhilash Roy from Bangla Live reviewed the film and applauded the directors for displaying the poor medical system in our country.[23]

A critic from Tollywood Dhamaka rated the film 6.75/10 stars and applauded the acting by the entire cast and the little details depicted in the film but bemoaned the sound and editing.[24] A critic from Anandalok reviewed the film and praised the direction, performance of the lead actors and the background score but criticized Debshankar's repetitive dialogues and excessive hand movements, excessive melodrama, slow pace in the second half and the weirdly written character of Sohini.[25]

Accolades

Alik Sukh was premiered at the Marché du Film section in Cannes Film Festival in 2013.[26][27] Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee received the Filmfare Awards East for Best Direction at the 1st Filmfare Awards East. At the same ceremony, Rituparna Sengupta won the Filmfare Award East for the Best Actress while Anindya Chatterjee received it for the Best Lyrics.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "A Humble Tribute to Doctors". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Alik Sukh pays tribute to doctors". 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "ঋতুপর্ণা-সোহিনী এ বার ছবিতে দ্বৈতসত্তায়". Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Personal life of doctors". Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Debshankar Haldar". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Alik Sukh is a film with a message". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Alik Sukh Success Party in Bengal Club". Ebela. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Housefull ei Sukh". Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Alik Sukh niye upche porchhe agroho". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Alik Sukh: Main Details". Gomolo. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Shiboprosad's Alik Sukh is inspired by his father's demise". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "After Paromitar Ekdin, Ritu-Sohini pair in Alik Sukh". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ritu Sohini in Alik Sukh". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Alik Sukh muktir kaale Debshankar Haldar mukhomukhi". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Alik Sukh Music Launch in Bengal Club". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Priya te jomey gelo Alik Sukh er Premiere". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Alik Sukh soundtrack album". Hungama.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Alik Sukh Album out on times music". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Anindya will render a song by his senior in Alik Sukh". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Alik Sukh Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Alik Sukh by Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2013.StarStarStarHalf star
  21. ↑ "Alik Surgery, article by Dr. Kunal Sarkar of Medica Hospital". Sambad Pratidin. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Alik Sukh movie review". rhododendron. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Alik Sukh miss korben na". Bangla Live. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Alik Sukh-a really good attempt at story-telling". tollywood dhamaka. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.StarStarStarStarStarStarHalf star
  25. ↑ "Alik Sukh-Sukher-e Sonchaar". Anandalok. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "Alik Sukh to Cannes Film Festival". Ebela. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  27. ↑ "Doctors are human beings, not God! Revisiting 'Alik Sukh' as the film clocks 7 years". The Times of India. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Kumar, S. "Anandalok Award Winners 2012 – Who wins Anandalok Puraskar of Bengali TV & Films". www.kolkatabengalinfo.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
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