Black (2015 Bengali film)

The film follows the story of a young man named Abir (Soham Chakraborty) who is a successful chef in Kolkata. He meets a woman named Nandini (Bidya Sinha Saha Mim) and falls in love with her. However, Nandini is revealed to be suffering from a dissociative identity disorder, and her alternate personality is violent and unpredictable. Abir becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship, leading to a series of events that test his sanity and morality. The narrative unfolds through a non-linear structure, with flashbacks and psychological twists.

The principal cast includes Soham Chakraborty as Abir, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim as Nandini, and Rudranil Ghosh in a supporting role. The film also features actors like Kharaj Mukherjee and Anindya Chatterjee in pivotal roles. The performances were noted for their intensity, particularly Mim's portrayal of a woman with a split personality, which was considered a departure from her previous work in Bangladeshi cinema.

Black was produced under the banner of SVF Entertainment, one of the leading production houses in Bengali cinema. The film was shot in Kolkata and its outskirts. The music was composed by Indradeep Dasgupta, with lyrics by Srijato. The film was released on 8 May 2015, and it was later dubbed in Hindi as 'Black: The Shadow of Love' for television broadcast.

Upon release, Black received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. The Times of India gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting that the film 'keeps you guessing' and praised the lead performances. However, some critics felt that the plot was convoluted and the psychological elements were not fully explored. The film performed moderately at the box office, and its soundtrack gained popularity, especially the song 'Tomake Chai'.

Black is notable for being one of the few Bengali films to depict dissociative identity disorder, a rare subject in mainstream Indian cinema. The film was also the first collaboration between Soham Chakraborty and Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, who later worked together in other projects. Additionally, the film's title 'Black' was a deliberate choice to signify the dark themes of the story, and it was initially planned as a thriller but evolved into a romantic drama during production. The film's ending was changed from the original script due to audience preview feedback, a fact that is not widely known.

Dissociative identity disorder

A mental disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states.

Non-linear narrative

A storytelling technique that presents events out of chronological order.