Macher Jhol Released On: 2017 Language: Bengali Genre: Heart-warming�Drama Producer: Joy Ganguly Director: Pratim D. Gupta Star Cast: Ritwick Chakraborty, Paoli Dam, Mamata Shankar, Arjun Chakrabarty,Sauraseni MaitraBengalis can eat macher jhol with bhaat literally at the drop of a hat. The jhol is tempered very lightly with aromatic spices, grated ginger, vegetables, and �bori� (dried lentil dumpling that adds crunch to the entree). The idea is to bring out all the flavors to enhance the purity of the fish! Eating a bowl of piping hot steamed rice with macher jhol can be a divine experience. It is like capturing the essence of your cultural identity that transports you into a non-threatening space.
If you haven�t watched it already, I urge you to watch it! It�s warm, poignant, funny, ironic, and delightful! The movie is also treated very unconventionally and my sensibilities greatly aligned with director Pratim D Gupta�s. Every character is well-nuanced and well-defined. None of them are left hanging or unfinished. Paoli Dam�s Sreela has a steely strength that belies her fragile persona. Here is a woman who has found her rhythm in the universe and the purpose of her existence. Played with remarkable restraint, Paoli brings dignity and grace to Sreela. Sreela is very much today�s woman-independent, plucky, and able. Thespian actor Mamata Shankar plays the pivotal role of the protagonist�s mom. She is one of those actors who can get into the skin of the character and play it with brilliant normalcy. So skilled is her acting prowess that the audience won�t even realize she is playing a part. The rest of the ensemble cast plays their well-etched out roles with aplomb. Special mention of Arjun Chakrabarty (actor Sabyasachi Chakroborty�s�s son) who plays a scrupulous rookie journalist in search of a story and newcomer Sauraseni Maitra, in the role of a young talented chef. I felt both these actors are destined to go places at some point of their cinematic careers!
And now I have to confess why I fell for the movie; hook, line, and sinker! There are actors and then there are actors. Ritwick Chakraborty as Chef Dev D is the high point of this movie! Without him, the komola katlaa maacher jhol will not quite have the razzmatazz it had! On the lines of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Irrfan Khan, this actor has enormous screen presence and strong acting genes. His versatility will serve him well in his cinematic career.
He is Dev D, Master Chef�extraordinaire, who is hugely successful with all the trappings of power, wealth, and success, on one hand, and on the other hand, is commitment phobic and a man of contradictions!
Devdutta Sen is not a perfect being! He is flawed but there is also a vulnerability about him that gets under your skin! He also has an attitude!
Macher Jhol is his journey where he finds his slice of rainbow at the end of the tunnel. It is also about going against the tide with irreconcilable differences. About making choices that are bittersweet! About winning some and losing more or maybe the reverse! It is about doing what your heart desires and discovering where your passions lie!
My recommendation- Oh yes, it�s a must see! Macher Jhol is story-telling at its best. Every aspect of the movie, be it acting, direction, editing, cinematography, and music are all in harmony with one another! Anupam Roy�s music is soulful and mesmerizes the senses. The tracks are original and flows well with the story.�The music strengthens the story line, adding value to the languid pace and the silences in the conversations. Dawttok sets the tone of the movie, sung delightfully by Anupam Roy. You will also love the Bengali Maacher Jhol sung seductively by Nikhita Gandhi and Anupam Roy. Do have a listen and I bet you will be hooked on to them.
Komol Katla Macher Jhol
- Take the Katla pieces. Soak them in salt and turmeric.
- Heat oil in a kadai. Fry them in the hot oil.
- Make sure, they don�t turn very red while frying.
- In a separate pan, heat some oil. Add in the ginger paste. Keep frying till the smell goes away.
- Add tomato puree or chopped tomatoes. This adds the color to the jhol.
- Next, add chilli, cumin, coriander, turmeric powder.
- Cook them well.
- Keep stirring to avoid the mix getting burnt.
- Now, add a cup of water.
- Add sugar and salt as per taste.
- Add the fried fish pieces, add a lid, and let it simmer.
- The fish gets cooked in the steam.
- Keep checking on the fish, if you feel the fish is near cooked. Add the orange juice.
- Add some green chillies, and some garam masala powder.
- Let it simmer for some more time. Do not overtly the orange juice.
- Fish is ready!
- Garnish it with some orange slices and curry leaves.
