Chokher Bali (film) - Revision history

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	==Critical reception==		==Critical reception==
	Aishwarya has given one of her finest performances and one of the best in cinema.{{peacock term\|reason=need more specific review detail\|date=March 2018}}<ref>{{Cite news \|url= http://sports.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/05ritu.htm \|title= Ash will be remembered in Chokher Bali \|access-date=5 May 2003 \|date= 5 May 2003 \|work= Rediff }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/07chokher.htm\|title=Aishwarya's screen presence and passion play \|publisher=[[Rediff.com]] \|access-date=7 October 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405212256/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel \| url-status=dead \| archive-date=5 April 2012 \|title=Chokher Bali will widen my horizon\|work=[[The Times of India]]\|access-date=6 June 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm\|title=A director's film\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|access-date=16 November 2003\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130090005/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm\|archive-date=30 November 2006\|url-status=dead}}</ref>		Aishwarya has given one of her finest performances and one of the best in cinema.{{peacock term\|reason=need more specific review detail\|date=March 2018}}<ref>{{Cite news \|url= http://sports.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/05ritu.htm \|title= Ash will be remembered in Chokher Bali \|access-date=5 May 2003 \|date= 5 May 2003 \|work= Rediff }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/07chokher.htm\|title=Aishwarya's screen presence and passion play \|publisher=[[Rediff.com]] \|access-date=7 October 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405212256/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel \| url-status=dead \| archive-date=5 April 2012 \|title=Chokher Bali will widen my horizon\|work=[[The Times of India]]\|access-date=6 June 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm\|title=A director's film\|work=[[The Hindu]]\|access-date=16 November 2003\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130090005/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm\|archive-date=30 November 2006\|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	In ''[[Anandabazar Patrika]]'', [[Chandril Bhattacharya]] praised the film for its direction, screenplay, background score, sound design, cinematography, production design as well as the dubbing by Sudipta Chakraborty. <ref>https://dl.bdebooks.com/index.php/s/wTszBMj7PQsNGne/download</ref>		In ''[[Anandabazar Patrika]]'', [[Chandril Bhattacharya]] praised the film for its direction, screenplay, background score, sound design, cinematography, production design as well as the dubbing by Sudipta Chakraborty.<ref>https://dl.bdebooks.com/index.php/s/wTszBMj7PQsNGne/download</ref>
	Ekanshu Khera of Planet Bollywood gave the film an 8/10. He found the cinematography to be beautiful and was pleased that the singing was not lip synched. However, he said that the "dubbing leaves much to be desired" and would have preferred a different director dub it in Hindi. He also noted that the film appeals "to a niche audience due to its periodic settings and ideologies."<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=25 March 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119195239/http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 \|archive-date=19 January 2016 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Margaret Pomeranz of [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC Australia]] gave it 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "the insight it gives into Indian culture and customs, is interesting and that tends to overcome the slight impatience with the overload of emotions." David Stratton, also of ABC, gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, commenting on how the film version was edited 40 minutes shorter but that it was beautifully acted and fascinating.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150113041857/http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1392583.htm</ref>		Ekanshu Khera of Planet Bollywood gave the film an 8/10. He found the cinematography to be beautiful and was pleased that the singing was not lip synched. However, he said that the "dubbing leaves much to be desired" and would have preferred a different director dub it in Hindi. He also noted that the film appeals "to a niche audience due to its periodic settings and ideologies."<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 \|title=Archived copy \|access-date=25 March 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119195239/http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 \|archive-date=19 January 2016 \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Margaret Pomeranz of [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC Australia]] gave it 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "the insight it gives into Indian culture and customs, is interesting and that tends to overcome the slight impatience with the overload of emotions." David Stratton, also of ABC, gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, commenting on how the film version was edited 40 minutes shorter but that it was beautifully acted and fascinating.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150113041857/http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1392583.htm</ref>

2409:4060:2003:A0E2:0:0:7A3:50A0: /* Critical reception */

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Critical reception

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{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chokher Bali চোখের বালি
| image = Chokher_Bali_cover.jpg
| writer = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Chokher Bali (novel)|Chokher Bali]]''|[[Rabindranath Tagore]]}}
| starring = [[Aishwarya Rai]] [[Raima Sen]] [[Prosenjit Chatterjee]] [[Tota Roy Chowdhury]] [[Lily Chakravarty]]
| caption =
| director = [[Rituparno Ghosh]]
| cinematography = [[Avik Mukhopadhyay]]
| editing =
| producer = [[Shrikant Mohta]] [[Mahendra Soni]]
| studio = [[Shree Venkatesh Films]]
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2003|10|2|[[India]]|df=y}}
| runtime = 143 minutes
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| narrator =
| music = [[Debojyoti Mishra]]
| budget = {{INR}}25 million<ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/218111.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031204162138/http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/218111.cms |archive-date=4 December 2003 |title=Chokher Bali |last=Ghosh |first=Tanmoy |date=2003 |work=[[Filmfare]] |access-date=12 May 2021 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

'''''Chokher Bali''''' ({{lang-bn|চোখের বালি}}) ({{lit}} sand in the eye, {{abbr|fig.|figuratively}} constant irritant) is a 2003 Indian [[Bengali language]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] based on the 1903 novel ''[[Chokher Bali (novel)|Chokher Bali]]'' by [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. It was directed by [[Rituparno Ghosh]] in 2003 and stars [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan|Aishwarya Rai]] as Binodini and [[Raima Sen]] as Ashalata. Ashalata and Binodini refer to each other as ''Chokher Bali''. The other major characters are played by [[Prosenjit Chatterjee]] as Mahendra, [[Lily Chakravarty]] as Rajlakshmi, the mother of Mahendra, [[Tota Roy Chowdhury]] as Behari, Rajlakshmi's adopted son and [[Swastika Mukherjee]] in a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] role. The film was later dubbed into Hindi and was released internationally in that language.

Upon release, ''Chokher Bali'' met with critical review and positive box office reception.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/11/13/stories/2003111300830200.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031128224733/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/11/13/stories/2003111300830200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 November 2003 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Alluring Ash | date=13 November 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2003/10/11/2284/index.html |title=| Bollywood News | Celebrity News |publisher=BollywoodHungama.com |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2004/jan/10spec1.htm |title=Bengali films zoom in on profits |publisher=Rediff.com |date=10 January 2004 |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

''Chokher Bali'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali]], [[National film award for best costume design]] and [[National film award for best art direction]].It was nominated for the [[Golden Leopard]] (Best Film) award at the [[Locarno International Film Festival]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jahia.pardo.ch/index.jsp |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227173258/http://jahia.pardo.ch/index.jsp |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> The film screened at the 34th [[International Film Festival of India]] on 19 October.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/20ash.htm |title= Why Ash loves Binodini |access-date=20 October 2003 |date= 20 October 2003 |work= Rediff }}</ref> It was the Official Selection at the [[Chicago International Film Festival]] in 2003 and was showcased in over 25 international festivals including the [[Toronto International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/photoessays/toronto_film2003/index.html |title=The Toronto Film Festival |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517074714/http://www.time.com/time/asia/photoessays/toronto_film2003/index.html |archive-date=17 May 2007 }}</ref> London Film Festival, Palm Springs, Karlovy Vary and Washington DC International Film Festival besides winning the Apsara Film Producers' Award for the Best Regional Film 2004. Aishwarya Rai had won the Best Actress award at the [[Anandalok Puraskar|Anandalok Awards]] 2003.

==Plot==
Binodini is a young girl who is left to her own devices when her sickly husband dies soon after their marriage. She returns to her village and lives there for a couple of months until she sees one of her aunts passing by. Binodini hails the woman and her two sons agree that it would be best if Binodini came to live with the woman and her son, Mahendra. But that son, Mahendra, was one of the first to see Binodini's photo when she was proposed as a prospective wife for him, yet refused her on account of his being "unready for marriage." When Binodini arrives with her aunt, Mahendra and his new bride are constantly sneaking off to be alone together. This infatuation does not last long, however, and Mahendra soon begins to see that Binodini is more his type. Mahendra and Binodini, start an affair, and this is soon revealed to Ashalata, who, unaware of her pregnancy, leaves for Kashi. Binodini, after realising that Mahendra is self-obsessed, leaves Mahendra's house. She pleads with Behari to marry her, but Behari, true to his values, rejects her offer. Binodini leaves the town for her village. She writes a letter to Behari that she'll be waiting for him in Kashi. As she is leaving for Kashi, Mahendra comes to mend their relations, which she refuses. Instead she makes him promise to take her to Behari. At Kashi, Binodini meets Behari who, after some incidents, agrees to marry her. On the day of marriage Binodini vanishes, leaving a letter for Asha. The story details the lives of these three and Mahendra's best friend as they deal with issues such as distrust, adultery, lies, and falling-out. {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

== Music ==

The film's background score is by [[Debojyoti Mishra]] and, notably, it contains no playback singing. [[Sreela Majumdar]] dubbed for Aishwarya Rai and ''[[Sudipta Chakraborty]]'' dubbed for Raima Sen.

== Culture ==

In olden days in Bengal, women and girls who were best friends would often set a common nickname for themselves and address each other by that name. In this story, two friends Binodini and Ashalata call each other 'Chokher Bali.'

==Cast==
*[[Aishwarya Rai]] as Binodini (Voice dubbed by [[Sreela Majumdar]])
*[[Prosenjit Chatterjee]] as Mahendra
*[[Raima Sen]] as Ashalata (Voice dubbed by [[Sudipta Chakraborty]])
*[[Lily Chakravarty]] as Rajlakshmi, Mahendra's mother
*[[Tota Roy Chowdhury]] as Behari
*[[Shuchita Roychowdhury]] as Annapurna, Ashalata's maternal aunt
*[[Mousumi Saha]] as Swarna
*[[Tina Dutta]] as Manorama
*[[Ratna Ghoshal]] the Woman accompanying the English missionary
*[[Swastika Mukherjee]] as a young Courtesan
*[[Anindya Chatterjee]] and [[Upal Sengupta]] occur as the students
*[[Sudeshna Roy]] as Kamal

==Critical reception==
Aishwarya has given one of her finest performances and one of the best in cinema.{{peacock term|reason=need more specific review detail|date=March 2018}}<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://sports.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/05ritu.htm |title= Ash will be remembered in Chokher Bali |access-date=5 May 2003 |date= 5 May 2003 |work= Rediff }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/07chokher.htm|title=Aishwarya's screen presence and passion play |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=7 October 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405212256/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-06/news-interviews/27178157_1_aishwarya-rai-rabindranath-tagore-tagore-novel | url-status=dead | archive-date=5 April 2012 |title=Chokher Bali will widen my horizon|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 June 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm|title=A director's film|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=16 November 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130090005/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mag/2003/11/16/stories/2003111600410500.htm|archive-date=30 November 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In ''[[Anandabazar Patrika]]'', [[Chandril Bhattacharya]] praised the film for its direction, screenplay, background score, sound design, cinematography, production design as well as the dubbing by Sudipta Chakraborty. <ref>https://dl.bdebooks.com/index.php/s/wTszBMj7PQsNGne/download</ref>
Ekanshu Khera of Planet Bollywood gave the film an 8/10. He found the cinematography to be beautiful and was pleased that the singing was not lip synched. However, he said that the "dubbing leaves much to be desired" and would have preferred a different director dub it in Hindi. He also noted that the film appeals "to a niche audience due to its periodic settings and ideologies."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119195239/http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=032906041452 |archive-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Margaret Pomeranz of [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia]] gave it 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "the insight it gives into Indian culture and customs, is interesting and that tends to overcome the slight impatience with the overload of emotions." David Stratton, also of ABC, gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, commenting on how the film version was edited 40 minutes shorter but that it was beautifully acted and fascinating.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150113041857/http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1392583.htm</ref>

==Box office==
The film was declared a hit at the box office.{{clarify|reason=how is it a hit?|date=March 2018}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/news/type/view/id/1176647 |title='Chokher Bali' is a hit | Chokher Bali (2003) | Latest Movie News |publisher=Bollywood Hungama |date=11 October 2003 |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

==Other titles==
*Choker Bali: A Passion Play (International: English title)
*Sand in the Eye (India: English title)
*Binodini (India: English title)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0366304|Chokher Bali}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160119195239/http://www.citwf.com/film62412.htm citwf.com page]

{{National Film Award Best Feature Film Bengali}}
{{Rituparno Ghosh}}
{{Shree Venkatesh Films}}

[[Category:2000s Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:Films set in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian novels]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Memorials to Rabindranath Tagore]]
[[Category:Films about women in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rituparno Ghosh]]
[[Category:Films whose production designer won the Best Production Design National Film Award]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Costume Design National Film Award]]
[[Category:Best Bengali Feature Film National Film Award winners]]