Dhananjay (2017) User Reviews

A sculpture of an unpopular statue

[arghya-01497 · 9/10 · 4 November 2017]

Films are said to be the reflection of the society. Over the years this medium of truth telling has effectively been used by enormous number of film makers. If make honestly, films can be a reliable sculpture of time.

We always share a view that law is blind. It has been effectively used as a weapon of the rich to damn the poor. It is a popular view that justice can be bought. Court always believes in the circumstantial evidences, which can be manufactured by the skillful. In 2004 when Dhananjay was given death sentence, media played a huge role on that. Fake news were manufactured and written which led us to believe the fictitious incident. Using the constitution he was given death sentence.

Making a film with this sensitive issue is always difficult, it requires a lot of research and guts. There is always a possibility that negative reviews and ratings will be given. And we know that success of a "Indian film" largely depends on songs and brainless comedy, which were intentionally avoided in this one. Instead, in the scene just before Dhananjoy's death sentence one Manna Dey song is included.

A thank will be the least to be given to the directional,acting and production team for making a film with a least popular subject. Waiting what we only can do to see more and more such unpopular film from you Mr. Arindam Sil.

A Must Watch Movie for All

[Dibyayan_Chakravorty · 9/10 · 17 January 2019]

One of the best Bengali movies in recent times. This is must watch for everyone, specially for those who heard the news of Hetal Parekh murder case (March 5, 1990) for which Dhananjoy Chatterjee was hanged at Alipore Jail on August 14, 2004.

The film shows how the judicial system of our country worked (or still works) for rich people and the poor got suffered (or still suffers).

Why capital punishment should be avoided for first time offenders

[rtoac1 · 8/10 · 19 June 2019]

This is based on the message from the Bengali film "Dhananjoy" starring Mimi Chakraborty.

I've been an avowed believer in capital punishment. That heinous crimes and those called rarest of rare crimes definitely deserve so.

But this film is definitely a jolt to such beliefs. I now contend that capital punishment should be reserved for repeat offenders, those who despise and openly violate the law. And even if for rarest of rare cases, should not be awarded to first time offenders.

The film shows how trial by media and public pressure to show closure leads to the police getting swayed in their investigations and the politicians taking advantage of public sentiments. In the end, someone who is poor is told by his own lawyer that "milk is sweeter if you put more sugar".

The film has a hard-hitting message that shows the accused was convicted by contradictory circumstantial evidences and statements. The implicit message that if he were still alive, there was a chance to overturn the ruling and for the accused to be released with full honour.

But in the end possibly, a life was taken just because it was convenient to take it as a scapegoat!



The film itself though could have been still edited to be at least 15 minutes shorter.

Many of the points were being repeated in the courtroom arguments which was a drag. At times one would feel why the judge is asking the same questions which were already answered by the lawyers in the earlier dialogues.



I rated this film 8/10 in IMDB.

Hard Truth of the Society

[ferrarinimesh · 10/10 · 18 January 2019]

Spare 1000 criminals but 1 innocent should not be punished. The film beautifully puts this sentence to justice. Powerful performances from everyone. Watch the movie for the storyline. If you love courtroom drama then this is it. An appeal to the masses not to play along the rhetoric and make media/social trials. We cannot just punish anyone to teach the society a lesson.

Best Movie on facts not easy to explain & direct

[anirudhatapkire · 9/10 · 31 August 2018]

The people who belong law field do not need explain much but rest of need to go for study in detail.

Intense court room drama

[Quirk47 · 8/10 · 28 August 2020]

Its all about a murder ! The final twist is expected but the detailing is excellent and thoughtful. Screenplay is the highlight of the film. It hardly bore us wuth unnecessary scenes. Must watch. Highly recommended

Stellar performances and electrifying screenplay makes it an exhilarating watch !!!

[ketgup83 · 9/10 · 3 April 2019]

I was 17 year old when the high profile case of Dhananjoy Chatterjee hit the media after he was accused of raping a 14 year-old school girl. Like many, I believed that Dhananjoy was the main person behind the heinous crime. Unfortunately, the truth was out somewhere else.

Dhananjay tells the story of of what actually happened at the event versus what was framed by the Indian judiciary and media. The case which shocked the entire Calcutta during 90's, is based on a book, Adalat-Media-Samaj Ebong Dhananjayer Fashi, which questions the justice delivered due to the gaps found in the investigation and media trial.

Directed by Arindam Sil, Dhananjay is a shocking tale of an innocent man who became the victim of the heinous crime committed by someone else (I will not reveal the spoiler). He was physically and mentally tortured by the Calcutta police, media and powerful people due to public uproar against him. The film successfully highlights the logic behind the murder, the main culprits and even the politicians who supported without even understanding the rationale. The film has close reference to the Talwar case, which had the same situation with innocent people falling into the trap and the main accused was still roaming free. A big salute to Arindam Sil for being bold and blunt and letting us know things which was fabricated. He deep-dives into the real events behind the gruesome murder that changed the lives of so many people.

Cinematography is just about okay. Art direction is natural. Background score gels well with the mood of the film. Editing adds crispiness to the pace. Coming to the performances, it is Mimi Chakraborty all the way. Watch her as she builds up the character and gives her best with the superb dialogue delivery. Other actors were equally competent with their roles.

Dhananjay is definitely a solid-punching drama that raises the question of flawed legal system, lethargic Indian judiciary and weak bureaucracy. Watch it to see the ugly truth. Excellent 4/5

An important revelation that could've been sensational, given more care.

[SaibalBandopadhyay · 6 October 2017]

The Dhananjay Chatterjee story is one which has been on since like forever. This story has unfolded so many astonishing aspects about the society and people around us. It's fair to say, the story, the closer inspection of it, needed to be put forward in front of the masses. For all these years, we had a completely different view of the story. I am pretty certain this movie will bring some change to it. Now, if we concentrate on the movie making side of it, its merely average. The acting overall isn't worth cherishing. It will bug a viewer throughout the movie that it could've been way so much better still. That being said, Kaushik Sen gave a strong performance, though he was playing second fiddle to Mimi Chakraborty. The courtroom procedures could've been a lot more precise. There is sometimes too much drama in the way a normal conversation was taking place. The best scene of the movie has to be the one just before Dhananjay's hanging. Him asking his friend to sing him a Manna Dey song before he takes his leave from life is enthralling. There is so much pain in that scene that one couldn't help feeling empty from inside for a moment or two. How a poor and an innocent person got crushed under the wheels of the rich favoring and politically motivated society is what the movie wants to portray. It succeeds in doing so to some extent. Overall, I have to admit, although a really good movie, this story deserved a better interpretation.

A False Narrative

[ricksarkar666 · 1/10 · 6 November 2019]

A movie which put every effort to prove a criminal as a Victim of law, same what "Karla" did to notorious criminal "Karla Homolka" posed as a victim. If flims starts revealing truths then what's the point of court and police. Absurd

Please avoid

[beingserious · 1/10 · 27 May 2019]

A movie of distorted facts and unnecessary sleaze. Gross scenes which are not required for the narrative. Do avoid to save time. An unfortunate black mark on the plethora of good cinema being witnessed now from the Bangla film industry