I wonder how much of 'Memories in March' was ghost directed by Rituparno Ghosh (who also wrote the screenplay) as it has a very Ghosh feel to it. Not to take anyway from Nag, for if he was behind most of the work, it's superb and perhaps his next films will tell us how much potential he has to stay. 'Memories in March' tells the story of s single mother who arrives to Calcutta to be present attend the wake of her recently deceased son and to collect his belongings. During her visit she is assisted by Shahana and Ornob (two people who were close to her son) who provide her good company. Conservative that she is, when she suddenly learns of a secret about her son, she's shocked and filled with resentment towards Shahana and Ornob. However, her feelings gradually change as she learns more about the relationship her son had with these two people and this is what the core of the film beautifully emphasizes.
At first 'Memories in March' might sound like a depressive movie about grief but the film is much more than that and in the end one doesn't feel depressed but rather a sense of hope and enlightenment.
Subtle, quiet, and tender, yet very lyrical, 'Memories of March' definitely strikes a chord with heartstrings. There's no melodrama or spoonfeeding. Ghosh has written a solid screenplay and to top it off, among the highlights of 'Memories of March' are the three performances by its leads: Rituparno Ghosh who shows potential as an actor, Raima Sen (who looks a little off in the beginning but gradually settles in) and especially Deepti Naval who delivers a transcendent performance that comes across as natural, raw and very human.
As mentioned earlier, this isn't another one of those depressing tearjerker. It's about leaving a piece of yourself behind with your loved ones, like what Sid did and what Aarti does.
