Bhonsle

In a city in the densely populated state of Maharashtra in Western India, people are getting ready for the annual big feast honouring Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity and happiness. At the same time, however, this also leads to ever more violent tensions between the dominant ethnic group, the Marathi, and Bihari immigrants. Bhonsle, a recently fired policeman, looks on with resignation. As in his previous film Ajji, productive young Bengali filmmaker Devashish Makhija once again raises incisive, urgent questions about contemporary India. Who decides who belongs, and who doesn’t? Ganesha may be celebrated as the patron of new beginnings, but for Bhonsle it seems as if the end is nigh. He has a reputation in his block as a strict, angry neighbour, feared but also respected. This comes under pressure when he becomes involved with his new young Bihari neighbour Sita, which brings the conflict – literally – to his door. (International Film Festival Rotterdam)