The Diary Of West Bengal Movie Review : This political drama is a total misfire

Story: After Suhasini’s parents are murdered in a genocide in Bangladesh, she crosses the border into West Bengal. There, she becomes a target for radical Islamists determined to force her conversion to Islam.

Review: From its opening frame, ‘The Diary of West Bengal’ is an assault on the senses. The film lacks any redeeming qualities, making its 135-minute runtime difficult to endure. With subpar performances and a stale plot, it struggles to hold attention. While its political message is clear, the film offers little of cinematic value, leaving one to wonder how it even made it to theatres. It fails to engage on any level, leaving viewers disappointed and frustrated. Ultimately, it's a complete waste of time.

The film's plot centers on Suhasini (Arshin Mehta), a Hindu woman from Bangladesh who is forced to flee after her parents are murdered during a genocide. She is aided by Islamic radicals who help her cross the Sundarbans, but their true intent is to convert her to Islam and bolster West Bengal’s vote bank ahead of upcoming elections for a particular political party. Atik Khan (Yajur Marwah), the brother of Mahmood (Deepak Kamboj), an MP from Murshidabad, assists her in settling into town under the Hindu alias of Prateek. With the passage of time, Suhasini realizes that her so-called sympathisers have ulterior motives, pushing her towards conversion to Islam.

The film is weighed down by weak performances, with none of the characters making an impact. Arshin Mehta as Suhasini shows brief signs of effort, but it falls short of delivering. Yajur Marwah, in his portrayal of Atik/Prateek, struggles with emotion, which detracts from the film's overall effect. The large cast fails to meet acting standards, and the cringeworthy dialogue only adds to the discomfort. The screenplay is also riddled with glaring inconsistencies, like the implausible scene where a reporter takes over an anchor’s role simply because of a scoop. Combined with poor art direction, the film fails to rise above its many shortcomings.

The film attempts to be political with a clear tone, but everything else is lost amidst a clichéd plot and lacklustre performances. Though it tries to tap into the current relevance of Rohingya Muslims and West Bengal's political climate, any potential impact is ruined by amateur direction. What could have been a significant story is instead overshadowed by the film's many flaws. If only the filmmaker had managed to craft something even halfway watchable.