If one has seen Anjan Das' Saanjhbaatir Roopkatha and liked it, they'll probably like Iti Srikanto too.
I went through the film at about 2 in the morning. It is a film for this part of the early hours, or whenever ones mind is willing to be drawn into a movie that has a very gentle pace.
I will not provide an outline of the movie in detail. But to me it was about a Jajabar (we've seen one before in Agantuk) only this one is not out on a intellectual quest but a spiritual one... and by spiritual, Anjan Das brings in bhakti. This wanderer of his loves two and is loved by two women... a baiji and a follower of Lord Krishna. Each has her own quirks although the movie does not present them as so...because it maintains its smooth pace throughout, probably with purpose. In the end Srikanta comes to the end of his road - realization. How and why... that's for everybody wanting to watch it to figure out.
The camera, film quality, and sound is much better in this one than his previous work. The acting was reserved at best by the two leads, because the characters were so. But the Baiji's part had some stark crudeness but the movie's general attitude towards time glossed over it. The performances were good... the story exquisite... and direction good.
I give this movie an 8/10 because I felt there was something... don't know what exactly that was missing when compared to Saanjhbatir Roopkatha... maybe the missing point was the addition of this glossed over smoothness- at times it could have done with a bit more fire...but being an Anjan Das film... one should not probably desire too much of that- we have Sholay for fire and fun! Once again it is interesting that the director like in his other movie uses the weather to bring in emotion. Not many people use it...often rain is used to bring up on gloom or happiness... but here we see rain bringing on both...
Working more into the Hindu Muslim and Professional divide of Bengal would have brought in another star.
The movie has good music (background score) and one excellent full length semi devotional Hindi song.
Once again...its not something you'd probably enjoy if there noise in your mind...but a few hours to give yourself to Iti Srikanto's journey of solitude.
