Dabaru

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Dabaru
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPathikrit Basu
Written byArpan Gupta (dialogues)
Screenplay byAritra Banerjee
Produced byNandita Roy
Shiboprosad Mukherjee
Sanjay Agarwal
StarringArghya Basu Roy
Samadarshi Sarkar
Deepankar De
Rituparna Sengupta
Chiranjeet Chakraborty
Kaushik Sen
CinematographyMadhura Palit
Edited byMd. Kalam
Music byBonnie Chakraborty
Prasen
Production
company
Distributed byWindows Production
Release date
  • 10 May 2024 (2024-05-10)
Running time
131 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Dabaru (lit. 'The Chess Master') is a 2024 Bengali biographical sports drama film directed by Pathikrit Basu, based on the life of Indian Chess Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly. Produced by Windows Production, the film chronicles Ganguly's journey from North Kolkata's slums to becoming India's youngest Grandmaster at age 19.[1]

Plot

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The film follows young Surya, played by Samadarshi Sarkar as a child and Arghya Basu Roy as a teenager, who grows up in the slums of North Kolkata. He discovers chess through his supportive grandfather, Nabin Sarkar (Deepankar De), despite facing poverty and opposition from his alcoholic father. Surya's mother, Karuna Devi (Rituparna Sengupta), becomes his main supporter as he pursues his passion for chess.

As Surya navigates the competitive chess scene, he trains under two contrasting coaches: the encouraging Rathindra (Chiranjeet Chakraborty) and later the abusive Samiran (Kaushik Sen). His journey is filled with challenges, but his determination leads him to the pinnacle of success. The film culminates in Surya's victory at the 1998 Commonwealth Chess Championship at just 19 years old, making him India's youngest Grandmaster. Through resilience and the support of his family, Surya's story reveals the transformative power of hope, love, and dedication in the face of adversity.[2]

Cast

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  • Rituparna Sengupta as Karuna Devi, Surya's mother: Sengupta revealed she studied chess basics and met Ganguly's real mother to prepare, calling it "emotionally draining to portray a mother battling poverty while nurturing genius".[3]
  • Chiranjeet Chakraborty as Rathindra Nath Chakraborty, Surya's mentor: Chakraborty described his character as "the strategic architect behind raw talent," consulting real chess coaches for authenticity.[4]
  • Deepankar De as Nabin Sarkar, Surya's maternal grandfather
  • Kaushik Sen as Samiran, the strict coach: Sen admitted drawing inspiration from Whiplash but with "Bengali intellectual ruthlessness".[5]
  • Arghya Basu Roy as teenage Surya Ganguly: Trained for 6 months with chess coordinator Samriddhaa Ghosh to master tournament etiquette.[6]
  • Samadarshi Sarkar as young Surya Ganguly: Cast for his "photographic memory during chess sequences"
  • Shankar Chakraborty as Surya's skeptical father
  • Kharaj Mukherjee as local moneylender
  • Biswanath Basu as neighbor
  • Abhijit Guha as Sports Minister Subir Banerjee

Production

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Development

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Producers Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee approached director Pathikrit Basu in 2022 about adapting Ganguly's life, seeing it as "the perfect intellectual sports drama".[7] Ganguly revealed he learned about the project "a day before my daughter was born" and served as creative consultant.[8] Screenwriter Aritra Banerjee (Aritra's Gyan) spent 4 months with Ganguly's family, noting they fictionalized certain elements like the alcoholic father for dramatic tension.[9]

Filming

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Principal photography began July 2023 in Kolkata's Kumartuli and Shovabazar areas.[10] The climactic Commonwealth Championship scene featured 16 real chess players from Kolkata clubs.[11] Cinematographer Madhura Palit employed overhead drone shots transitioning chessboards to Kolkata alleyways.[12]

Music

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Bonnie Chakraborty and Prasen composed the soundtrack, with the title track fusing "dhol rhythms with chess clock ticks".[13] The song "Jhogra Kori Chol" by Mainak and Surangana topped Bengali charts for 3 weeks.[14]

Marketing

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The motion poster launched September 2023 with Grandmasters Viswanathan Anand and Dibyendu Barua present.[15] The trailer debuted April 2024 at Kolkata's Quest Mall, attended by chess legends and actor Mithun Chakraborty who praised its authenticity.[16]

Release

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The film premiered May 10, 2024 at Kolkata's Priya Cinema with chess-themed decor.[17] It was screened at Alliance Française du Bengale's film festival in July 2024.[18] Windows Production held celebratory events after its commercial success.[19]

Reception

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Critical response

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Poorna Banerjee from Times Of India reviewed the film and said that Dabaru is inspired by Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly’s life. It follows young Souro, a chess prodigy from a poor family in North Kolkata. His grandfather (Dipankar Dey) teaches him chess with his mother Karuna's (Rituparna Sengupta) support, despite his father’s objections. Souro meets his coach (Chiranjeet), who trains him to compete and pursue his dream of becoming a Grandmaster. Director Pathikrit Basu keeps the pace quick, while cinematographer Madhura Palit beautifully captures North Kolkata's streets, with sharp editing that highlights details like old chess sets.

The story resembles Dangal but focuses on family bonds. A deeper explanation of chess could benefit those unfamiliar with the game, yet the film primarily emphasizes relationships. Samadarshi Sarkar delivers a natural performance as young Souro, and Arghya Basu Roy portrays the teenage version effectively. Dipankar Dey plays the hopeful grandfather, while Rituparna Sengupta embodies the dedicated mother. Shankar Chakravarty shows notable growth as Souro’s father, and Chiranjeet shines as Coach Rathijit. The music, including the title track Dabaru and the romantic song Jhogra kori chol, is enjoyable. Although the second half loses some intensity, Dabaru remains engaging, making it worth watching even for those less familiar with chess.[20]

The Telegraph highlights that sports biopics are rare in Bengali cinema, especially about a young chess prodigy. Director Pathikrit Basu deserves praise for telling the story of Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly, though the film focuses more on Souro’s bond with his mother. Souro, a boy from North Kolkata with a talent for chess, gets support from his grandfather Nabin (Dipankar Dey) and mother Karuna (Rituparna Sengupta) as they help train him. Coach Rathindra Chakraborty (Chiranjeet) discovers Souro at a tournament, but Souro faces challenges like a lack of sponsors and difficulties accessing government support. After a family emergency, coaching shifts to Samiran (Koushik Sen), whose strict methods and Souro's teenage romance distract him from his goal of becoming a Grandmaster.

The film leans into melodrama, featuring loud dialogue, and some subplots, such as a money lender (Kharaj Mukherjee) and nosy neighbors (Biswanath Basu and Sanghasree Sinha), do not enhance the story. It also lacks the excitement of chess, often showing pieces moving without explaining the game’s strategy. The bond between Souro, his mother, and grandfather is central. Dipankar Dey conveys hope as the grandfather, while Rituparna Sengupta shows a mother finding joy in her son’s success. Samadarshi Sarkar is natural as young Souro, and Arghya Basu Roy impresses as the teenager. Chiranjeet is a likable coach, and Koushik Sen leaves an impression as the strict coach. Madhura Palit’s cinematography captures Kolkata in the 1980s and ’90s, creating beautiful visuals with light and shadow.[2]

In a review from ChessBase India, the writer reflects on the film Dabaru, inspired by the life of Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly. It begins with young Souro learning important life lessons through chess, like the saying, "You should never attack an unarmed king." The reviewer expresses excitement about a Bangla film centered on chess and shares their experience watching it with family in Hyderabad, despite a small audience turnout. They appreciate the effort to make chess relatable, using elements from battles and explaining terms like stalemate and Zugzwang. The film also addresses the struggles of a middle-class family, portraying poverty with vivid detail.

The relationship between Souro and his grandfather is central to the story, highlighting the vital role of grandparents. Rituparna Sengupta's portrayal of Souro's mother is praised for its emotional depth, showcasing her worries and hopes. The character of Rathindra, Souro's coach, embodies the importance of guidance without imposing rigid ideas. The film includes a charming subplot involving Souro's friendship with Debangana, adding depth to his character. While the reviewer felt the film could have been shorter and the writing crisper, they enjoyed the overall experience and noted that the film's message about hope and perseverance resonated. They encourage others to watch Dabaru when it becomes available on OTT platforms.[1]

OTTPlay's review notes that chess chooses Souro, not the other way around. This unique pairing of a young boy from North Kolkata and the sport could create compelling drama, but the film falls into clichéd melodrama. The dialogues are often excessively loud and dull, making conversations feel unrealistic.

Rituparna, Shankar Chakraborty (Souro’s father), and Kaushik Sen (Samiran, the arrogant coach) deliver strong performances. Samadarshi shines as young Souro, while Arghya Basu Roy (teenage Souro) has mixed moments. Dipankar Dey is fine as Nabin, and the bond between him and Souro is heartfelt. Chiranjeet’s character suffers from weak dialogue and delivery.

The soundtrack dominates the film, often overpowering the narrative. While some songs are enjoyable, the lyrics are often inaudible..[21]

Controversies

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Ganguly clarified his real father wasn't alcoholic, calling that "dramatic liberty to heighten conflict".[22] Director Basu defended the coach's brutality: "We needed a tangible antagonist since poverty isn't visually dynamic".[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b ""You should never attack an unarmed king" - An Honest review of Dabaru, A movie based on the life of GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly". ChessBase India. May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Dabaru: More about a mother-son bond than Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly's chess talent". The Telegraph. 12 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Rituparna Sengupta talks about her role in Dabaru and the challenges of playing it". Telegraph Online. April 2024.
  4. ^ "দ্বিতীয় বার কোচের ভূমিকায় চিরঞ্জিৎ, 'দাবাড়ু' ছবিতে তাঁর চরিত্রটি কেমন? খোলসা করলেন অভিনেতা". Anandabazar Patrika. March 2024.
  5. ^ দাস, সম্পিতা (May 2024). "সত্যজিৎ বা মৃণালের সঙ্গে তুলনা নয়, আবার লাফিয়ে স্বপন সাহায় নামলেও চলবে না: কৌশিক". Anandabazar Patrika.
  6. ^ "Tollywood: মাকে যমের মতো ভয়! 'দাবাড়ু'তে তাঁকে লুকিয়ে প্রেমের গান শুট করেছিলেন অর্ঘ?". Aajkaal. April 2024.
  7. ^ "Celebrating 25 Years of Transforming Bengali Cinema: Nandita Roy & Shiboprosad Mukherjee's Legacy and Vision for the Future". Firstpost. May 2024.
  8. ^ "I first heard about Dabaru a day before my daughter was born". Times of India. April 2024.
  9. ^ "Pathikrit Basu on Dabaru: The producers and I decided to make a film on chess". OTTPlay. April 2024.
  10. ^ "চৌষট্টি খোপে জীবনের চর্যা, 'দাবাড়ু'-র প্রথম দিনের শুটিংয়ে উপস্থিত আনন্দবাজার অনলাইন". Anandabazar Patrika. July 2023.
  11. ^ "'ছবিতে আমি যেন নিজেকেও দেখলাম,' 'দাবাড়ু' দেখে লিখলেন দিব্যেন্দু বড়ুয়া". Anandabazar Patrika. May 2024.
  12. ^ "'This is a story of fulfilling dreams' — Director Pathikrit Basu on Friday film Dabaru". Telegraph Online. May 2024.
  13. ^ "Dabaru title track is all about energy, emotion, and inspiration". Times of India. April 2024.
  14. ^ "Dabaru New Song: দাবার সঙ্গে মিশে গেল প্রেমের গল্প, মৈনাক-সুরঙ্গনার গলায় 'ঝগড়া করি চল'". ABP News. April 2024.
  15. ^ "Glimpses from the pre-teaser poster launch of Dabaru". The Indian Express. September 2023.
  16. ^ "'আমরা সকলেই জীবনে দাবা খেলছি', ভোটের মুখে 'কিস্তিমাত'-এর ইঙ্গিত মিঠুনের?". Sangbad Pratidin. April 2024.
  17. ^ "দাবাড়ু (Dabaru) movie inspired by the life of Surya Sekhar Ganguly is out now on theaters". ChessBase India. May 2024.
  18. ^ "Pathikrit Basu's 'Dabaru' to be screened at the Film Festival by Alliance Française du Bengale". Times of India. July 2024.
  19. ^ "Glimpses from the celebrations of Dabaru's success". The Indian Express. 6 July 2024.
  20. ^ Banerjee, Poorna (11 May 2024). "Dabaru Movie Review: A well-played script indeed!". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Dabaru review: Surya Sekhar Ganguly's biopic deserves more than just melodrama". OTTPlay. 11 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Dabaru: Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly says 'Point of view of audience with no knowledge of chess or my background will be most interesting'". India Blooms. May 2024.
  23. ^ "গা থেকে 'মশালা ছবি'র ছাপ্পা মুছতে দু'বছর লেগেছে, বললেন 'দাবাড়ু'র পরিচালক পথিকৃৎ". Anandabazar Patrika. May 2024.
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