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{{Advert|date=May 2018}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
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{{Infobox film
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'''''Iti Mrinalini''''' ({{lang-langx|bn|ইতি মৃণালিনী}} {{lang-langx|en|Yours, Mrinalini}}; {{lang-langx|en|An Unfinished Letter}}) is a 2011 Indian drama film directed by [[Bengali people|Bengali]] filmmaker [[Aparna Sen]]. TheSen director collaboratescollaborated with screenwriter [[Ranjan Ghosh]] to penwrite both the story and the screenplay, a major first for her.<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna">{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/178239/konkona-plays-young-mom-aparna.html|title=Konkona plays young mom Aparna|accessdatework=Deccan Herald|access-date=2011-07-24|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> The film has beenwas produced by [[Shrikant Mohta]] and [[Mahendra Soni]] of [[Shree Venkatesh Films|Shree Venkatesh Films Pvt Ltd]].<ref name="Aparna Sen announces Iti Mrinalini" /> It isSome alsocritics theconsider first film by Senit to be nationally released in [[Hindi]] simultaneously with the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] version for her Bengal audience. Many critics consider it among her best workworks, alongranking with ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Iyer]]'' and ''[[36 Chowringhee Lane]]''.<ref name="Aparna Sen's best since Mr and Mrs Iyer">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaabroad-digital.com/indiaabroad/20110506/?pg=33#pg33.html|title=Aparna Sen's best since Mr and Mrs Iyer|accessdateaccess-date=2011-05-30|work=India Abroad-Digital}}</ref>
 
[[AparnaThis Sen]]was returnsthe to make afirst Bengali film Sen directed after a gap of more than a decade. Her lastprevious film was ''[[Paromitar Ek Din]]'', in 2000. ''Iti Mrinalini'' is supposedlyviewed as the director's first mainstream venture in which she experiments with the popular genre. TheIt much-touted film isfocuses on the life andof timesan of aaging Bengali star- actress of mainstreamyesteryear cinema of yesteryear(Mrinalini), who looks back at her life. [[Aparna Sen]] plays the oldercurrent-day Mrinalini while her daughter [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] portrays theMrinalini's younger versionself.<ref name="Aparna Sen announces Iti Mrinalini">{{cite web|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/aparna-sen-announces-iti-mrinalini/503496/|title=Aparna and Konkona in Iti Mrinalini|accessdateaccess-date=2009-08-21|work=ScreenIndia.com|deadurlurl-status=yesdead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925161819/http://www.screenindia.com/news/aparna-sen-announces-iti-mrinalini/503496|archivedatearchive-date=25 September 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The film also stars [[Rajat Kapoor]], [[Priyanshu Chatterjee]], [[Kaushik Sen]], [[Locket Chatterjee]] and German actor [[Suzanne Bernert]] in supporting roles. The entire cast, except for Konkona, is new to Aparna Sen films.<ref name="Mrinalini’s men">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090923/jsp/entertainment/story_11529226.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604144613/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090923/jsp/entertainment/story_11529226.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Other casts of Iti Mrinalini|access-date=2009-09-23|work=The Telegraph|location=Calcutta, India|first=Kushali|last=Nag|date=2009-09-23}}</ref>
 
This was the first time Sen had collaborated with a scriptwriter,<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna" /> and the first film by Sen to be nationally released in [[Hindi]] simultaneously with the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] version. It is also the first time Sen and her daughter have played the same character.<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna" />
Sen directs her daughter [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] and also acts with her in the same film, another first for the mother-daughter duo that plays the same character.<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna"/> Featuring Sen and her daughter in the lead role, the film also stars [[Rajat Kapoor]], [[Priyanshu Chatterjee]], [[Kaushik Sen]], [[Locket Chatterjee]] and German actor [[Suzanne Bernert]] in supporting roles. The entire cast, except Konkona, work in an Aparna Sen film for the first time.<ref name="Mrinalini’s men">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090923/jsp/entertainment/story_11529226.jsp|title=Other casts of Iti Mrinalini|accessdate=2009-09-23|work=The Telegraph|location=Calcutta, India|first=Kushali|last=Nag|date=2009-09-23}}</ref>
 
==Theme==
The film examines the randomness of life. Nothing is under our control and at times, we should just let go - just let it be what it will. The film explores different forms of love - one that happens in early youth, one that's more domestic, one that falls somewhere between ''friendship'' and ''love'', and one resulting out of loneliness and seclusion.
 
==Plot==
Mrinalini, an ageing actress, writes a suicide note. As a performer, the first lesson she had learntlearned was timing – the perfect moment for making an entrance or an exit on stage. On the stage of life, her entrance had beenwas outside her control;, but she wantsplans to choose the moment of her exit at least.
 
However, beforeBefore taking the sleeping pills thatshe will put her to sleephas foreverready, she decides to destroy all her memorabilia – letters, photographs, newspaper cuttings, knick-knacks pertaining– to the past –in lestcase they fall into the hands of the press. She has beenwas a victimfocus of media attention all her life and wishes to be spared thatthis, as much as possible, at her death.
 
As she looks through the old box that contains relics from her past, memoriesshe flood the night ...remembers Incidentsincidents that she had forgotten or had relinquished to the furthest corners of her mind now return to haunt her and,suppressed. throughThrough these memories, anshe entirerelives lifeher is revealed – alove life of loves lost and gained, friendships and betrayals, successes and failures, accidents and awards, agonies and ecstasies.
 
As Mrinalini relives her past, as night gradually turns to dawn. An ''azaan'' (Islamic call to prayer) starts up somewherein the distance. Slowly, early morning light fills the room. The moment has passed and the death she had wished for so intensely no longer seems a priority. Her German Shepherd comes and rubs its head on its mistress’smistress's feet and squeaksasks to be let out. Mrinalini smiles, tears up the suicide note and takes her dog out for a walk. On the street, she meets morning walkers, oldjoggers, and young, joggers, a group of school children.
 
A young man runs past her. He seems to be escaping from something. Mrinalini getsthinks a glimpse, and a doubt crosses her mind -that she seems to recognizerecognizes him.; Hehe resembles her first boyfriend, from her college days. Maybe he's a thief, or somea gangster. She doesn't know. Neither do we. And then,Then a gunshot ripsis through the airheard. Everyone on the street getsis startled. Mrinalini stands still, shocked. The young man who resembled her first love checks himself. He is safe., Onlybut thisMrinalini time,has shebeen hashit takenin the bullet on her back, and not the man who had resembled her first love. He runs off, as she - the one who had wanted to control her exit from the stage of the world, collapses on the ground ...
 
==Cast==
* [[KonkonaAparna Sen Sharma]] as Youngerthe Mrinalini Mitra
** [[AparnaKonkona Sen Sharma]] as Olderthe younger Mrinalini Mitra
* [[Priyanshu Chatterjee]] as Imtiaz Chowdhury
* [[Rajat Kapoor]] as Siddhartha Sarkar
* [[Kaushik Sen]] as Chintan Nair
* [[ShahebSaheb Bhattacharya|Saheb Bhattacharjee]] as Abhijeet Mukherjee
* [[Locket Chatterjee]] as Maithili Sarkar
* [[Srijit Mukherji]] as Ranajoy Mitra
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* [[Ananya Chatterjee]] as Hiya Majumdar
* [[Dulal Lahiri]] as Prasad Sen
* [[TriteeRita BasuKoiral]] as Toddler ShonaMoti
* RitaTritee KoiralBasu as MotiToddler Shona
*Poonam Basak as Mrinalini's Roommate
*Avrajit Chakraborty as Mrinalini's friend
 
==Production==
 
===Pre-production===
ForThis the first time,is Sen's teamedfirst upcollaboration with [[Shree Venkatesh Films|Shree Venkatesh Films Pvt Ltd]], the makers of ''[[Chokher Bali (2003 film)|Chokher Bali]]'' and ''[[Raincoat (film)|Raincoat]]''. The prePre-production of the film started in the second week of April 2009 with ideation. Scripting started by the end of April.
 
In a major first, Sen got attached to the curriculum of any film institute. The screenplay of ''Iti Mrinalini'' was an assignment in the Screenwritingscreenwriting syllabus at the Mumbai-based film school [[Whistling Woods International]]. ItThis wasmarked the first instance in Indian Screenwritingtime that anya screenplay emerging from anyan Indian film institute had actually been filmed.<ref>{{cite web news| title=Script is King in any film|publisher newspaper=''The Asian Age''| url=http://www.asianage.com/ideas/%E2%80%98script-king-any-film%E2%80%99-281/| accessdateaccess-date=2010-11-12| archive-date=3 December 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203050627/http://www.asianage.com/ideas/%E2%80%98script-king-any-film%E2%80%99-281/| url-status=dead}}</ref> In a Master Class on Cinema held on [[Fox History & Entertainment|Fox History and Entertainment Channel]], Sen commented that she had never collaborated with any film writer before the screenplay for ''Iti Mrinalini''. First-time screenwriter [[Ranjan Ghosh]], an alumnus of [[Whistling Woods International]], wrote the story and the screenplay along with Sen, based on an original story idea Sen gave him.<ref>{{cite web | title=There's no luck without hard work|publisher=dnaindia|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/interview_there-s-no-luck-without-hard-work_1389978/| access-date=2010-05-31}}</ref> Ghosh was Sen's first co-author since she began her prolific directing career with [[36 Chowringhee Lane]] in 1981.<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna" /><ref>{{cite web | title=Iti Mrinalini| publisher=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123737177108| access-date=2009-12-11}}</ref> The first draft of the screenplay of ''Iti Mrinalini'' was ready by the end of July 2009. The second and third drafts were completed by August and September, respectively
 
Somak Mukherjee acted as cinematographer, in place of Shirsha Roy who was unable to participate due to scheduling problems.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} Location scouting was carried out in [[Calcutta]] and [[Konark]] in the month of August.
In [[Aparna Sen]]'s own admission at a Master Class on Cinema held on [[Fox History & Entertainment|Fox History and Entertainment Channel]], in the three decades of her film-making career that was the very first time that she collaborated with any film writer. Based on an original story idea given to him by Sen, debutant screenwriter [[Ranjan Ghosh]], a screenwriting alumnus of [[Whistling Woods International]], had written the story and the screenplay along with his director.<ref>{{cite web | title=There's no luck without hard work|publisher=''dnaindia''|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/interview_there-s-no-luck-without-hard-work_1389978/| accessdate=2010-05-31}}</ref>
 
LikeAs inshe did for her earlier films, Sen went in forarranged a grueling acting workshop for the cast, conducted by [[Sohag Sen]]. The Calcutta chapter wasof the workshop lasted for three weeks, when daughterwith [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] had flown down from Mumbai to attend the workshop. The Mumbai chapter wasran for another ten days thereafter, with [[Rajat Kapoor]] and [[Priyanshu Chatterjee]]. The acting workshop was conducted by [[Sohag Sen]].▼
Incidentally, with ''Iti Mrinalini'', [[Ranjan Ghosh]] went on to become [[Aparna Sen]]'s first and only co-author since she began her prolific directing career with [[36 Chowringhee Lane]] in 1981.<ref name="Konkona plays young mom Aparna"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Iti Mrinalini| publisher=''Facebook''|url=https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123737177108| accessdate=2009-12-11}}</ref>
 
Extensive and exhaustive pre-production meets were held regularly at Sen's placehome throughout the months of August and September. The productionProduction design of this film has been handledwas by Sen along withand her directorial assistants. Sen entrusted her scriptwriterScriptwriter [[Ranjan Ghosh]] - who also doubled upacted as Assistant Director -and withtook on the unique task of creating Mrinalini's memory items. The entire memorabilia of the actress were thereby designed and created by Ghosh with some help from the art department. HerSabarni Das, Sen's longtime junior colleague at the Bengali-language Womenwomen's magazine ''[[Sananda (magazine)|Sananda]]'', [[Sabarni Das]], designed the costumes for Sen's film. Das also helped in the art direction and handled the costumes for the period film.▼
The first draft of the screenplay of ''Iti Mrinalini'' was ready by end-July. The second and the third drafts were written successively by August and September. Cinematographer [[Shirsha Roy]] was supposed to shoot the film initially. However, date hassles kept him away. DOP [[Somak Mukherjee]] stepped in his shoes. Location scouting was carried out in [[Calcutta]] and [[Konark]] in the month of August.
 
===Production/Principal photography===▼
▲Like in her earlier films, Sen went in for a grueling acting workshop for the cast. The Calcutta chapter was for three weeks when daughter [[Konkona Sen Sharma]] had flown down from Mumbai to attend the workshop. The Mumbai chapter was for another ten days thereafter with [[Rajat Kapoor]] and [[Priyanshu Chatterjee]]. The acting workshop was conducted by [[Sohag Sen]].
The production of the film started on 6 October 2009.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kolkata calling for Konkona| publisherurl=''Times of India''https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Kolkata-calling-for-Konkona/articleshow/5031099.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811033317/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-20/news-interviews/28088106_1_konkona-sen-sharma-70s-80s-kolkata-iti-mrinalini|url-status=live|archive-date=2011-08-11| accessdateaccess-date=2009-09-20| newspaper=[[The Times of India]]| date=2009-09-20}}</ref>▼
 
One of the cult poems by Bengali writer [[Sunil Gangopadhyay]] is linked with ''Iti Mrinalini''. One of his cult poems, ''[[Smritir Shohor]]'', has beenwas turned into a song for the film. Incidentally, thisThis is the first time anya ofpoem by Gangopadhyay's poems havehas been used asin a song for any film. Music director Debojyoti Mishra haswrote scored for Sen oncethe againscore.▼
▲Extensive and exhaustive pre-production meets were held regularly at Sen's place throughout the months of August and September. The production design of this film has been handled by Sen along with her directorial assistants. Sen entrusted her scriptwriter [[Ranjan Ghosh]] - who also doubled up as Assistant Director - with the unique task of creating Mrinalini's memory items. The entire memorabilia of the actress were thereby designed and created by Ghosh with some help from the art department. Her longtime junior colleague at the Bengali-language Women's magazine ''[[Sananda (magazine)]]'', [[Sabarni Das]], designed the costumes for Sen's film. Das helped in the art direction and handled the costumes for the period film.
 
''Iti Mrinalini'' is also the first film to bewas shot by [[Aparna Sen]] in record time. The film's unit faced an uphill task of completing the shoot covering 38 locations in just 33 days. The shoot covered areas around Calcutta likeincluding the [[Vidyasagar Setu]], the [[Howrah Bridge]], [[Bagbazar|Baghbazar]] Ghat, [[College Street (Kolkata)|College Street]], Favourite Cabin, Calcutta Greens, [[Science City, Kolkata|Science City]], [[Alipore Zoological Gardens|Alipore Zoo]], [[New Market, Calcutta|New Market]], Priya Cinema, Ganga Kutir, and a Silver Spring apartment. amongThe outdoor scenes were shot in Konark in a hostweek, in the latter half of othersOctober.▼
▲===Principal photography===
▲The production of the film started on 6 October 2009.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kolkata calling for Konkona| publisher=''Times of India''|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-20/news-interviews/28088106_1_konkona-sen-sharma-70s-80s-kolkata-iti-mrinalini| accessdate=2009-09-20| date=2009-09-20}}</ref>
 
It was a return to history for the film unit. The sound of "lights, camera, action" returned to Calcutta Movieton studio at [[Tollygunge]]’s 28A Chandi Ghosh Road, which reopened after 25 years withfor ''Iti Mrinalini''. The studio was once owned by yesteryear ex-star [[Kanan Devi]], who sold it to businessman Jagdish Bagri in 1985. Bagri commented "I had no intention to run a studio back then but now Tollywood is big," said Bagri. ''Iti Mrinalini'' producerProducer Shree Venkatesh Films had takenhired two floors on hire for the film shoot.<ref>{{cite news | title=Aparna stars in Aparna film| publishernewspaper=''The Telegraph''|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091112/jsp/entertainment/story_11728536.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115170737/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091112/jsp/entertainment/story_11728536.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2009| accessdateaccess-date=2009-12-11| location=Calcutta, India| date=2009-11-12}}</ref>▼
▲Bengali writer [[Sunil Gangopadhyay]] is linked with ''Iti Mrinalini''. One of his cult poems, ''[[Smritir Shohor]]'' has been turned into a song for the film. Incidentally, this is the first time any of Gangopadhyay's poems have been used as a song for any film. Music director Debojyoti Mishra has scored for Sen once again.
 
▲''Iti Mrinalini'' is also the first film to be shot by [[Aparna Sen]] in record time. The film's unit faced an uphill task of completing the shoot covering 38 locations in just 33 days. The shoot covered areas around Calcutta like the [[Vidyasagar Setu]], the [[Howrah Bridge]], [[Bagbazar|Baghbazar]] Ghat, [[College Street (Kolkata)|College Street]], Favourite Cabin, Calcutta Greens, [[Science City, Kolkata|Science City]], [[Alipore Zoological Gardens|Alipore Zoo]], [[New Market, Calcutta|New Market]], Priya Cinema, Ganga Kutir, Silver Spring apartment among a host of others.
 
For the outdoor schedule, the unit went to Konark for a week in the latter half of October.
 
▲It was a return to history for the film unit. The sound of "lights, camera, action" returned to Calcutta Movieton studio at [[Tollygunge]]’s 28A Chandi Ghosh Road, which reopened after 25 years with ''Iti Mrinalini''. The studio was once owned by yesteryear star [[Kanan Devi]], who sold it to businessman Jagdish Bagri in 1985. "I had no intention to run a studio back then but now Tollywood is big," said Bagri. ''Iti Mrinalini'' producer Shree Venkatesh Films had taken two floors on hire for the film shoot.<ref>{{cite news | title=Aparna stars in Aparna film| publisher=''The Telegraph''|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091112/jsp/entertainment/story_11728536.jsp| accessdate=2009-12-11| location=Calcutta, India| date=2009-11-12}}</ref>
 
===Post-production===
The first two cuts of the film were completed by the end of November 2009 and by mid -December 2009 respectively. WhileThe the firstfinal cut went up to 140 minutes, thewith second cut'sa duration was 135 minutes. The final duration isof 128 minutes, and was completed in January 2010.
 
Dubbing was held in Calcutta in December and in Mumbai from January to March 2010. Sound design and the final mix-down was completed in the 'Maximum City' in September.▼
Dubbing was held in Calcutta over two phases. In the first phase, lasting a week, in early December, all major and secondary characters completed their dubbing. The second phase lasted for three days whence [[Aparna Sen]] did her portion. The dubbing session in Mumbai began in the third week of January 2010 and continued till March 2010. ''Iti Mrinalini'' has been dubbed in Hindi as well.
 
=== Release= ==▼
▲Sound design and the final mix-down was completed in the 'Maximum City' in September.
''Iti Mrinalini''<nowiki/>'s domestic premiere was in the 'Indian Frame' section at the 12th [[Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image|MAMI International Film Festival]] 2010, held in Mumbai on 27 October 2010.<ref>{{cite news| title=Iti Mrinalini movie review Aparna Sen's whirlwind memory trip| publisher=Passion For Cinema| url=http://passionforcinema.com/iti-mrinalini-movie-review-aparna-sens-whirlwind-memory-trip//articleshow/6658998.cms| access-date=2010-12-01}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Iti Mrinalini movie review Aparna Sen's mainstream outing| publisher=Wordpress| url=http://lataravindran.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/iti-mrinalini-movie-review-aparna-sens-mainstream-outing//articleshow/6658998.cms| access-date=2010-12-12}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Its world premiere was at the [[Cairo International Film Festival]] on 30 November 2010.<ref>{{cite news | title=Srijit Mukherji's new heights|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Srijit-Mukherjis-new-heights/articleshow/6658998.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103144514/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-01/news-interviews/28259416_1_bengali-cinema-premiere-srijit-mukherji|url-status=live|archive-date=2012-11-03| access-date=2010-10-01| newspaper=[[The Times of India]]| date=2010-10-01}}</ref> The film opened the River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival on 3 December 2010, which was also its European premiere.<ref>{{cite news| title=Aparna Sen's film Iti Mrinalini to flag off Florence Festival| publisher=Calcutta Tube| url=http://calcuttatube.com/aparna-sens-film-iti-mrinalini-to-flag-off-florence-festival/articleshow/6658998.cms| access-date=2010-12-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129090150/http://calcuttatube.com/aparna-sens-film-iti-mrinalini-to-flag-off-florence-festival/articleshow/6658998.cms| archive-date=29 January 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref> It played to sold-out audiences at the [[Dubai International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Iti Mrinalini housefull at Dubai film fest |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Iti-Mrinalini-housefull-at-Dubai-film-fest/articleshow/7104659.cms |access-date=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218222905/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Iti-Mrinalini-housefull-at-Dubai-film-fest/articleshow/7104659.cms |archive-date=18 December 2010 }}</ref> and was given a standing ovation at the 8th Edition of the [[Chennai International Film Festival]] on 23 December 2010.<ref>{{cite news| title=iti… a cinematic experience| publisher=Wordpress.com| url=http://rudhran.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/iti…-a-cinematic-experience/article950182.cms| access-date=2010-12-27}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/The-world-comes-to-Chennai/article15591852.ece#!|title=The World comes to Chennai|last=Ramnarayan|first=Gowri|date=2010-12-13|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2010-12-22|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
 
The prestigious [[Slamdance Film Festival]] presented ''Iti Mrinalini'' at the 9th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, on 14 April 2011, the film's USA premiere.<ref>{{cite news| title=What to Watch #8: An Unfinished Letter (ITI MRINALINI) presented by Slamdance| publisher=indianfilmfestival.org| url=http://indianfilmfestival.org/blog/?page_id=28.cms| access-date=2011-03-31| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721060444/http://indianfilmfestival.org/blog/?page_id=28.cms| archive-date=21 July 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref> It was selected as the Centerpiece Film at the 11th Annual edition of the [[Indo-American Arts Council|IAAC]]'s [[New York Indian Film Festival|New York Indian Film Festiva'''l''']] in May 2011 in [[Manhattan]],<ref>{{cite news | title=NYIFF announces Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece films| publisher=businessofcinema.com|url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=17878rticle950182.cms| access-date=2011-03-20}}</ref> and was shown at the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival in May 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania<ref>{{cite news| title=Festival Guide 2011| publisher=silkscreenfestival.org| url=http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/131/festival-guide-2011.cms| access-date=2011-05-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004014716/http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/131/festival-guide-2011.cms| archive-date=4 October 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref> and the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news| title=An Unfinished Letter| publisher=siff.com| url=http://www.siff.com/MovieEnLists/2011/ShowDetail.aspx?dicID=766B2336-FF37-4A1A-B2DD-06081718313D&ID=ea4fc348-521e-4556-bef5-77857a02f83a.cms| access-date=2011-06-26| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001061801/http://www.siff.com/MovieEnLists/2011/ShowDetail.aspx?dicID=766B2336-FF37-4A1A-B2DD-06081718313D&ID=ea4fc348-521e-4556-bef5-77857a02f83a.cms| archive-date=1 October 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref>
▲===Release===
''Iti Mrinalini'' opened to excellent reviews at its domestic premiere in the 'Indian Frame' section at the 12th [[Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image|MAMI International Film Festival]] 2010, held in Mumbai on 27 October 2010.<ref>{{cite news | title=Iti Mrinalini movie review Aparna Sen's whirlwind memory trip| publisher=''Passion For Cinema''|url=http://passionforcinema.com/iti-mrinalini-movie-review-aparna-sens-whirlwind-memory-trip//articleshow/6658998.cms| accessdate=2010-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Iti Mrinalini movie review Aparna Sen's mainstream outing| publisher=''Wordpress''|url=http://lataravindran.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/iti-mrinalini-movie-review-aparna-sens-mainstream-outing//articleshow/6658998.cms| accessdate=2010-12-12}}</ref>
 
The film's commercial release in India was on 29 July 2011, followed by a worldwide release on 31 July 2011.
It had its world premiere at the [[Cairo International Film Festival]], on 30 November 2010.<ref>{{cite news | title=Srijit Mukherji's new heights| publisher=''The Times of India''|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-01/news-interviews/28259416_1_bengali-cinema-premiere-srijit-mukherji| accessdate=2010-10-01| date=2010-10-01}}</ref>
 
=== Reception= ==▼
The film opened the [[River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival]] on 3 December 2010, which was also its European premiere.<ref>{{cite news | title=Aparna Sen's film Iti Mrinalini to flag off Florence Festival| publisher=''Calcutta Tube''|url=http://calcuttatube.com/aparna-sens-film-iti-mrinalini-to-flag-off-florence-festival/articleshow/6658998.cms| accessdate=2010-12-08}}</ref>
[[The Hollywood Reporter]] called ''Iti Mrinalini'' "[a]n addicting shot of melodrama" with "anxious beautiful women" and "a sense that society, an entirely alien force outside those nighttime windows, is conspiring to ruin lives and despoil love".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-unfinished-letter-iti-mrinalini-179447|title=An Unfinished Letter (Iti Mrinalini): Movie Review|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|date=2011-04-18|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502131603/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-unfinished-letter-iti-mrinalini-179447|archive-date=2017-05-02|access-date=2011-06-10}}</ref>
 
[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]] commented that "[t]he film transcends its regional mould and presents Bengalis as part of a bigger global existence... This is a new-generation film which doesn’t need a hip youngster to make it contemporary".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/of-memories-men/cid/356743|title=Of memories & men|last=Bhaumik|first=Mainak|date=January 8, 2011|website=Telegraph India|language=en|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref>
The Gulf premiere was on 13 December 2010 at the [[Dubai International Film Festival]]. Reportedly both the scheduled shows went houseful at the Festival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iti Mrinalini housefull at Dubai film fest |publisher=''The Times of India'' |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Iti-Mrinalini-housefull-at-Dubai-film-fest/articleshow/7104659.cms |accessdate=2010-12-15 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218222905/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Iti-Mrinalini-housefull-at-Dubai-film-fest/articleshow/7104659.cms |archivedate=18 December 2010 }}</ref>
 
[[The Indian Express]] wrote that "The film ends abruptly on a tragic, pessimistic, almost melodramatic note that is unlike Aparna Sen. Sen's minute eye for detail is scattered through the film, as are myriad characters of different colours who dot her life from her youth in the 1970s to the present time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/iti-mrinalini/831131/|title=Iti Mrinalini - Indian Express|last=Chatterji|first=Shoma A.|date=August 12, 2011|website=Indian Express|access-date=2019-09-26}}</ref>
''Iti Mrinalini'' was given a standing ovation at the 8th Edition of the [[Chennai International Film Festival]] on 23 December 2010, with very positive reviews.<ref>{{cite news | title=iti… a cinematic experience| publisher=''Wordpress.com''|url=http://rudhran.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/iti…-a-cinematic-experience/article950182.cms| accessdate=2010-12-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=The World comes to Chennai| publisher=''The Hindu''|url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article950182.cms| accessdate=2010-12-22| location=Chennai, India}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>
 
[[Anandabazar Patrika]] rated the film 8.5/10, calling it "Aparna's most mature outing till date, and a marked departure from her usual style of film-making".{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}
The film was screened on 12 January 2011 at the 9th Pune International Film Festival, in the Indian Cinema section.
 
==Themes==
The prestigious [[Slamdance Film Festival]] presented ''Iti Mrinalini'' at the 9th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, on 14 April 2011. It also marked the USA premiere of the film.<ref>{{cite news | title=What to Watch #8: An Unfinished Letter (ITI MRINALINI) presented by Slamdance| publisher=''indianfilmfestival.org''|url=http://indianfilmfestival.org/blog/?page_id=28.cms| accessdate=2011-03-31}}</ref> The film won considerable critical acclaim at the fest.<ref>{{cite news | title=An Unfinished Letter (Iti Mrinalini): Movie Review| publisher=''hollywoodreporter.com''|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-unfinished-letter-iti-mrinalini-179447.cms| accessdate=2011-06-10}} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>
The film examines the uncertainty of life, suggesting that nothing is under our control no matter how hard we try. The film also explores different forms of love: romantic love, domestic happiness, platonic love, and love that results from loneliness and seclusion.
 
''Iti Mrinalini'' was selected as the Centerpiece Film at the 11th Annual edition of the [[Indo-American Arts Council|IAAC]]'s popular film festival NYIFF which ran from 4 May to 8 May 2011, in [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite news | title=NYIFF announces Opening, Closing, and Centerpiece films| publisher=''businessofcinema.com''|url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=17878rticle950182.cms| accessdate=2011-03-20}}</ref> The critics had favourable reviews for the film here as well.<ref>{{cite news | title=Iti Mrinalini (Yours Mrinalini) - Warm Story, Creatively Portrayed| publisher=''desiclub.com''|url=http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/bollywood_features/bolly_article.cfm?id=2613.cms| accessdate=2011-06-15}}</ref>
 
Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival, held from 6–15 May 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, screened ''Iti Mrinalini''.<ref>{{cite news | title=Festival Guide 2011| publisher=''silkscreenfestival.org''|url=http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/131/festival-guide-2011.cms| accessdate=2011-05-20}}</ref>
 
The film was further selected at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival held from 11–19 June 2011.<ref>{{cite news | title=An Unfinished Letter| publisher=''siff.com''|url=http://www.siff.com/MovieEnLists/2011/ShowDetail.aspx?dicID=766B2336-FF37-4A1A-B2DD-06081718313D&ID=ea4fc348-521e-4556-bef5-77857a02f83a.cms| accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref>
 
The film was slated for a commercial release in hometown Calcutta, along with a simultaneous national release in Hindi on 15 April 2011. It eventually had its national release on 29 July, followed by a worldwide release on 31 July 2011.
 
▲===Reception===
 
'''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''' said ''Iti Mrinalini'' was "An addicting shot of melodrama" - "The frame of reference for western cineastes to the sensibilities of the Bengali film An Unfinished Letter (Iti Mrinalini) would be a deep dive into the lush melodrama of Douglas Sirk along with a dramatic examination of the transitory nature of romantic passions found in Max Ophüls, all set in the world of Bengali intellectuals and the region’s film industry. In other words, it’s not a movie for the Bollywood crowd, despite its movie world setting. It’s heavy-duty melodrama with a fatalistic impulse that ties every tragedy into larger events within the subcontinent while exploiting the presence of two lovely icons of India’s film world..... The joy of the film lies not with the mechanical plot, some of it predictable once one catches on to how her catastrophes are linked to larger ones in Indian society. Rather its pleasures are found in its anxious beautiful women, the lushness of the music, art direction and costumes and a sense that society, an entirely alien force outside those nighttime windows, is conspiring to ruin lives and despoil love."
 
'''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]]''' reviews, "The film transcends its regional mould and presents Bengalis as part of a bigger global existence. It breathes of a veteran who has the freshness of a debutante who gets immensely personal and goes all out to make that one good movie. This is a new-generation film which doesn’t need a hip youngster to make it contemporary.... The generation of filmmakers that came up in the Seventies (to name a few: Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Goutam Ghose, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Utpalendu Chakrabarty, M.S. Sathyu, Aparna Sen) — they really pushed the boundaries and made movies for the sake of making movies and nothing else. That thought process has slowed down and Iti Mrinalini is like a wake-up call for the film fraternity that if these kinds of films and filmmakers are not embraced and supported, the world of serious cinema is going to become an endangered species."
 
'''[[The Indian Express]]''' mentions "It is a bit tough to write a review of a film that has already been written about extensively much before its Indian release. But that is routine for any film directed by Aparna Sen. Iti Mrinalini is no different. The difference lies in the storyline created by Sen jointly with Ranjan Ghosh. For the first time, she deals with the glamorous world of a top film star of Bengali cinema in the 1970s. This is rather fragile territory for a director who has herself reigned supreme in Bengali mainstream cinema for two decades or more because autobiographical references could get out of control. But Sen being Sen, instead of turning the film into a self-reflexive film-within-a-film, which would have been predictable, she makes it an introspective journey into the past by a fictional actress who decides to end her life..... The few loopholes this critic feels like questioning are – unlike Aparna Sen’s optimistic approach, this one ends on a very pessimistic note. Mrinalini is fleshed out more as a victim and a martyr than as a strong woman who knows her mind. Nothing wrong in that but Sen does it differently every time."
 
'''[[Anandabazar Patrika]]''' gave a positive review of the film, rating it 8.5 / 10 - "Aparna Sen has directed a total of nine films in her career, and one must admit that Iti Mrinalini has left all of them behind by a measurable distance.... It reminds us the various roles we play in our lives - at times we are an Abhijit, at times a Siddhartha. Yet at other moments we don the role of an Imtiaz. But we all have a Chintan in us... Iti is definitely Aparna's most mature outing till date, and a marked departure from her usual style of film-making. Her content is heavy yet new-age, her narrative intriguing, her pace fast, her visuals lending themselves to the moments. It is an assured piece. Debojyoti Mishra's music excels, especially the title track.... However, one note of dissonance is the verbosity of the script, laden with literature. But I guess the Bengali talk, like the French! Iti Mrinalini remains Aparna Sen's best letter till date."
 
'''[[New York Indian Film Festival]]''' felt ''Iti Mrinalini'' is "Definitely out of the mainstream in terms of execution of story and performance, the casting is appropriate. Perhaps connoisseurs and purists of Bengali cinema may not agree. While love is universal societal conflicts abound in any culture and time, more so now, and it is not surprising to hear Chintan Nair inquire of a despondent heroine, "Why do you think all love should end in marriage?" ... Debutant screenwriter Ranjan Ghosh has worked the subject with passion, and after a particularly depressing break-up for the younger Mrinalini, Chintan Nair (played by Kaushik Sen, known in Bengali screen and stage) declares, "A love that frees you is a love that has no expectations." Flashbacks tend to confuse a bit at times since Mrinalini is all over (old and young), and with the grand parade of exquisite saris on display one is overwhelmed by the array of characters who walk into frames effortlessly. And, concentrated effort is needed by the viewer to understand some of the sequences. Mrinalini continues to relive her past, as night gradually turns to dawn. Her German shepherd wants to get out for a break and while one is wondering about the suicide note, it happens. Wait for the last scene."
 
'''Passion For Cinema''' says, "I must thank Sen for not falling into the trap of commenting on Indian cinema of the yesteryears, or doing yet another review of the machinations of the film industry. They had been taken care of by Guru Dutt in Kaagaz ke Phool, and by Shyam Benegal in Bhumika. Refreshingly then, Aparna Sen’s Iti Mrinalini revisits all her past relationships – four of them – on the night she contemplates suicide. This fresh peek into the actress’s personal ‘life and love’ is something that has thrilled me ... . The otherwise taut narrative starts loosening up towards the latter half of the film. But it picks up right at the end with a shocker! Sen has always been a master story-teller and Iti Mrinalini matches up to that reputation. A big hug to her co-writer as well. I simply loved the way the flashbacks were coming on randomly, in tandem with her memories ... After the breezy TJW, Iti Mrinalini is like a whirlwind tour of a suicidal woman’s mind. Aparna Sen’s mastery over her craft is all too visible here! Do watch this small little epic film from the diva herself. But don’t go expecting another TJW, because you WILL be disappointed. This one’s WAY better! There is a chance that maybe, just maybe, Iti Mrinalini ends up being Aparna Sen’s most successful film till date!"
 
Film Portal '''Unboxed Writers''' talks of the film - "Iti Mrinalini (An Unfinished Letter) is a movie that takes you on a turbulent journey and lets you distinguish the myriad colors of relationships through the lens of an actress, a lover, a friend and a longing mother. What I loved about Iti Mrinalini besides the remarkable performances of the legendary Aparna Sen and the gifted Konkona Sen Sharma, possibly the only actress in the industry who can naturally slip into an emotion, is the engaging flow of the story. Mrinalini is the protagonist whose life and emotions move you in different ways and carry you away in a world where you cry, empathise and become one with the protagonist.... This movie is also a visual treat and also an uplifting experience because it travels through a night and a lifetime of pain and heartbreak and then unveils a morning of hope. The vanity of the make-believe world of cinema, the loss of self and the love and the ensuing hurt all teach you enduring life lessons and touch you deeply.... I recommend this brilliant portrayal of life and literature at least once to all the lovers of good cinema."
 
==Soundtrack==
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| artist = [[Debojyoti Mishra]]
| cover = Iti MrinaliniAlbum.jpg
| caption = Soundtrack album cover
| border = yes
| alt =
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| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label language = [[Shree VenkateshBengali Filmslanguage|Bengali]]
| label = [[Shree Venkatesh Films|SVF]]
| producer = [[Shrikant Mohta]] <br> [[Mahendra Soni]]
| prev_title =
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==Awards==
* '''Won'''- New York Indian Film Festival (Best Director) - [[Aparna Sen]]
* '''Won'''- New York Indian Film Festival (Best Actress) - [[Konkona Sen Sharma]]<ref>{{cite newsweb|publisherwebsite=HollywoodReporter[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|title=''Spring in the Colony' Wins Best Feature as New York Indian Film Festival Closes'|date=9 May 2011|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/spring-colony-wins-best-feature-186470|accessdateaccess-date=9 May 2011|first=Nyay|last=Bhushan}}</ref>
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
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{{Aparna Sen}}
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[[Category:2010 films]]
[[Category:Bengali-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Bengali-language films]]▼
[[Category:2010s drama films]]▼
[[Category:Films set in Kolkata]]▼
[[Category:Indian art films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Debojyoti Mishra]]▼
[[Category:2010s Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Aparna Sen]]
▲[[Category:Films scored by Debojyoti Mishra]]
▲[[Category:Films set in Kolkata]]
▲[[Category:Bengali-languageIndian drama films]]
▲[[Category:2010s2010 drama films]]
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