Festival is a complex family drama, set in a large mansion several hundred kilometres from Calcutta. The only inhabitant of the house is Bhagabati, mother of four children. Once a year, to mark the Durga Puja Festival, the whole family comes together, with their spouses and offspring.The director Rituparno Ghosh, who has won many awards in his own country, cherishes a great love for traditions and human relationships. His stories are usually told from the perspective of the woman. This time however, the voice-over is by Joy, the son of the eldest daughter Parul. He is also literally the observer: he walks round with his video camera. It soon becomes apparent that the varnish of family warmth is very thin. The youngest son Asit has money worries and the marriages of both the youngest daughter Keya and that of Parul are in difficulties. Cousin Shishir, the cause of Parul’s marital crisis, appears on the scene as a potential buyer for the family house.Ghosh meticulously worked out all the characters, relationships and problems using powerful dialogue, devoid of any gloss. Cameraman Aveek Mukhopadhyay put everything on the screen with the same meticulous care: from the mood of the stately mansion, the traditional festival, to every subtle facial expression. Festival is a declaration of love for the traditional Bengal film and also a colourful and atmospheric melodrama with an optimistic message: people can change for the better.
