Striking black-and-white aesthetic effectively captures the chaos and ugliness of urban life, serving as a visual metaphor for Manik’s internal struggles…

In The Cloud and the Man, Abhinandan Banerjee crafts a poignant debut that dances between the realms of the real and surreal, evoking the familiar while exploring the strange. Set against the bustling yet gritty backdrop of Kolkata, the film tells the whimsical story of Manik, a lonely middle-aged man whose life takes an unexpected turn upon discovering a cloud that seems to follow him—a metaphorical companion in his isolation.

Banerjee’s narrative unfolds through a unique lens, where the cloud emerges as a character, drifting unnoticed over the scorching land. This creative choice adds an enchanting layer to the film, allowing viewers to experience Manik’s solitude from a fresh perspective. The cloud’s presence becomes especially poignant following the death of Manik’s father, a paralyzed man grappling with dementia. In his grief, Manik’s solitary existence morphs into an intricate attachment to this celestial entity, offering a new kind of companionship in his otherwise uneventful life.

The film’s striking black-and-white aesthetic effectively captures the chaos and ugliness of urban life, serving as a visual metaphor for Manik’s internal struggles. The contrast is further heightened in the vibrant, colourful moments that bookend the film, highlighting the emotional awakening when isolation meets an unexpected connection. One of the most evocative scenes features Manik bathing in rainwater within the confines of his dilapidated bathroom, where the low-angle camera work and the sound of water create an intimate, almost tantric moment of union with the cloud. This scene resonates with the poetic essence of Tagore, reflecting the transcendence of mundane existence through a profound sensory experience.

While The Cloud and the Man treads familiar territory in its exploration of loneliness, it does so with a raw authenticity that breathes new life into these well-worn themes. The film invites comparisons to other cinematic works that have tackled isolation, yet it stands out with its unique, empathetic lens and richly detailed visual storytelling.

Though the film is not without its flaws—a tendency towards overused metaphors and moments where background music feels intrusive—the poignant character study and Banerjee’s ability to elicit empathy make it an engaging watch. The slow pace and cynical yet introspective musings like “My pastime is God” provide a reflective depth long after the credits roll.

In essence, The Cloud and the Man is more than just a film; it explores the human condition through the eyes of a solitary figure and his ethereal counterpart. Banerjee’s debut serves as a reminder of cinema’s power to illuminate the intricacies of isolation and connection, marking it as a noteworthy addition to the contemporary film landscape. If you’re seeking a thoughtful, artistic experience that merges the tangible with the intangible, this film is undoubtedly worth your time.

Director and Screenplay Abhinandan Banerjee.

Producer Bauddhayan Mukherji, Monalisa Mukherji DoP Anup Sigh Editor Abhro Banerjee Art director Bablu Singh Sound designer Abhijit Roy Music director Subhajit Mukherjee

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