Puratawn: The Ancient (2025) is a Bengali drama directed by Suman Ghosh, starring Sharmila Tagore, Rituparna Sengupta, and Indraneil Sengupta. The film explores memory, loss, and the emotional ties that bind generations within an old ancestral home. It’s a quiet, reflective film that speaks less through dialogue and more through silence, emotion, and atmosphere.
Basic Update:
Movie Name : Puratawn The Ancient (2025) Bengali Movie
Movie Category : Latest Bengali Movies (2025)
Genre : Drama, Family,
Release Date : April 11, 2025
Staring : Sharmila Tagore, Rituparna Sengupta, Indraneil Sengupta,
Director: Suman Ghosh,
Rating : 7.5
Storyline
The story follows Ritika, who returns to her ancestral house with her husband to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday. Her mother, Mrs. Sen, played by Sharmila Tagore, is slowly losing her grip on reality due to memory loss. As the family reunites, old memories, regrets, and emotional wounds resurface within the walls of their decaying home.
The film is less about plot twists and more about rediscovering one’s roots — the “ancient” connections that define who we are. It examines how memory, both personal and collective, shapes identity and belonging.
Performances
- Sharmila Tagore delivers a deeply emotional and layered performance. Her portrayal of a woman fading into the fog of memory is both heartbreaking and graceful. Every pause, every look feels authentic and human.
- Rituparna Sengupta shines as the conflicted daughter, torn between her modern life and the responsibilities that pull her back home.
- Indraneil Sengupta plays his part with quiet restraint, serving as the emotional anchor during moments of tension.
Together, they form a believable family dynamic that carries the film with maturity and empathy.
Direction & Cinematography
Director Suman Ghosh handles the subject with sensitivity and patience. He avoids melodrama, choosing instead a meditative tone that mirrors the flow of memory itself.
The cinematography beautifully captures the crumbling beauty of the old house — every corridor, window, and courtyard feels haunted by the past. The soft lighting and muted colors evoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholy that perfectly suits the film’s mood.
Music & Sound Design
The background score is subtle and haunting, enhancing the emotions without ever overwhelming them. The use of silence and ambient sounds — footsteps, creaking doors, whispering wind — adds to the film’s immersive realism. The music doesn’t demand attention; it lingers quietly, much like the film’s message.
Themes & Symbolism
The title Puratawn: The Ancient refers not only to the physical house but also to the emotional structures we inherit — traditions, values, memories, and unspoken pain. The film explores themes like:
- Ageing and memory loss — the fragility of human identity
- Family and generational distance — how modern life disconnects us from our roots
- Home and belonging — the meaning of returning to one’s origin
Each scene feels like a memory — incomplete yet vivid, delicate yet powerful.
Strengths
- Brilliant performances, especially by Sharmila Tagore
- Poetic direction and thoughtful cinematography
- Realistic portrayal of family relationships
- Deep emotional resonance without being sentimental
Weaknesses
- The pacing can feel slow for those expecting fast-moving drama
- Some subplots and secondary characters feel underdeveloped
- The ending, while touching, leaves certain emotional threads unresolved
Overall Experience
Puratawn: The Ancient is not a commercial entertainer. It’s a film that demands your patience and emotional investment. It rewards those who appreciate storytelling through silence, reflection, and emotional depth rather than spectacle or dialogue.
It’s the kind of film that stays with you — not because of what happens, but because of what it makes you feel.
Verdict
A quiet, soulful film that beautifully captures the essence of ageing, memory, and family. Sharmila Tagore’s masterful performance and Suman Ghosh’s sensitive direction make Puratawn: The Ancient a memorable experience for those who love meaningful cinema.