Janala tells the story about a man, Bimal, who decides to give a little back to his old school despite the fact he has very little money himself. As a child Bimal had a favourite corner classroom where he used to sit and daydream out of a broken window, and so when he finds himself back in his old school he feels compelled to replace the window.
Direction
Dasgupta's magical realist touches in stark rural Bengal.
Cinematography
That broken window frames longing better than any dialogue.
Director
Buddhadeb Dasgupta
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dasgupta shot in actual rural Bengal schools; many 'extras' were real students who'd never seen a film crew.
The window motif references Satyajit Ray's 'Charulata'—Bimal's nostalgia is as much for Bengali cinema's golden age as his childhood.
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