This animated musical adaptation, directed by Shilpa Ranade, revisits Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969), a Satyajit Ray classic based on a story by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury. The story follows Goopi, a terrible singer, and Bagha, an equally bad drummer, who are exiled from their villages. They gain magical boons from a ghost king that make their music captivating, allow them to summon food and travel anywhere, and reserve a fourth wish. Using these powers, they bring peace between two warring kingdoms and marry the princesses.
The animation, inspired by the traditional Bengali art form Patachitra, is vibrant, intricate, and refreshingly unique compared to Disney-style animations. The film delivers a timely anti-war message and boasts ear-catching music by 3 Brothers and a Violin, with standout performances by voice actors and singers.
This visually rich and culturally rooted film successfully preserves the essence of Ray's original, and there’s potential for it to follow in the footsteps of Ray’s trilogy by continuing the adventures of Goopi and Bagha.
