Chingari

'Chingari' could rightly have been called 'Sushmita Power' for she's the mainstay of the film. If fun time is what you're looking for in a cinema hall, then stay away from this film! And for all you diehard Sushmita Sen fans, here's a different flavour of this woman to relish and cherish.

You are sure to take home a slice of Basanti (Sushmita Sen) after watching 'Chingari'. The film is a close look at the goings on in a remote village in Northern India. So head for this film if you're in the mood for realism. But the film has a major drawback; its length. It could have been trimmed by at least half an hour and made crisp. Then it would have made a stronger impact!

'Chingari' has many layers to it. It's the love story of a prostitute and a postman. There are other issues too that are still prevalent in these remote areas in the North; illiteracy, sexual exploitation of the poor, and fake Godmen.

The story is set in Rangpur, a village in Northern India. Lalbatti is the red light area here. Basanti (Sushmita Sen) is a prostitute. She is regarded as the best looking of her lot. She has a little daughter, Titli. Nothing is known about the child's father but Basanti has big dreams for Titli. Chandan (Anuj Sawhney) is a new postman in the village. He delivers letters and also reads them out to the illiterate villagers. He does the same with the prostitutes in Lalbati. Everybody but Basanti receives a letter.

He is deeply attracted to her. One day he writes her an anonymous love letter and reads it out to her very passionately. This happens too often. The anonymous writer even proposes marriage to Basanti. But in the midst of it all, she realizes that she has fallen in love with Chandan. She likes the innocence about him. But she decides to go ahead and marry the anonymous writer for the sake of Titli.

Now comes the twist in the tale. There is a wicked man, Bhuvan Panda (Mithun Chakraborty), a priest. He's a demon trapped in a man's body. The villagers worship as well as fear him and he exploits them. He comes to Basanti regularly to satisfy his lust. When he hears of Chandan and Basanti's growing fondness for each other, he's livid. Chandan tries to oppose Bhuvan's cruelty to the poor villagers many a times. Finally Bhuvan kills Chandan in a fit of rage. An enraged Basanti is out to avenge his death, not just because she loved him but more so when she hears that he was the anonymous writer who was set to marry her. And she does it in style!