Madam Sengupta: “But Where’s the Thrill?”
Sayantan Ghoshal’s ‘Madam Sengupta’ aims for realism but loses its spark in execution
Bengal, Nov 22 ; Once celebrated for their cinematic brilliance, Bengal and Kerala have given India some of its finest auteurs Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, John Abraham, Aravindan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Shaji N. Karun. Today, with only a few of these masters still active, expectations from regional cinema often remain unfulfilled. So when Sayantan Ghoshal’s murder mystery Madam Sengupta arrived on Zee5 after its theatrical run, it created a wave of hope especially for viewers outside Bengal, where such films rarely release.
However, that hope fades quickly. Ghoshal’s attempt to ground the film in realism instead drains it of energy, leaving Madam Sengupta dull, flat and surprisingly devoid of suspense. For a thriller, the absence of thrill becomes its biggest flaw.
Rituparna Sengupta, who plays the titular cartoonist and grieving mother, and Rahul Bose, portraying journalist Ranjan, deliver uninspired performances. Both seem disengaged from their characters, their portrayals lacking depth or conviction. Sengupta appears superficial, while Bose feels stiff and detached neither convincingly embodying their professions or emotional stakes.
The story follows a mother seeking answers after her daughter’s murder. Yet, despite the inherently tense premise, the narrative crawls. Long pauses, a sluggish pace, and underdeveloped emotional beats leave the mystery underwhelming. Ghoshal attempts to compensate with moody, atmospheric visuals occasionally eerie but these cannot fill the gaps left by the script.
What disappoints most is the contrast with the actors’ earlier work. Bose, unforgettable in Mr and Mrs Iyer, and Sengupta, remarkable in Paromitar Ek Din, have both delivered nuanced, memorable performances in the past. Here, their spark is missing. Even Kolkata beautifully captured in postcard like frames cannot elevate the narrative.
Madam Sengupta has elements of sorrow, betrayal, longing and power, but never enough momentum to keep the tension alive. In the end, what should have been a gripping thriller turns into a slow moving drama, leaving viewers yearning for the cinematic excellence Bengal once consistently delivered.
