Based on Rabindranath Tagore`s novel of the same name, Chokher
Bali is a psychological study of relationships
between the sexes in a landed family, of shifting
eternal triangles, complex motivations, a subtle
play of emotions; all of which have interesting
parallels as well as contrasts to our times.
The story of the film is about the relationships
between four young people, two men and two women.
Mahendra (Prosenjit), is a spoilt young dandy,
the pride and despair of his widowed mother
Rajlakshmi (Lily Chakraborty). Behari (Tota
Roychowdhury), his closest friend is almost
like another son to Rajlakshmi. Like all doting
mothers Rajlakshmi wants to see her son happily
married and she would like to see Behari settled
as well. She has a girl in mind for Mahendra,
the daughter of a friend of hers. Binodini (Aishwarya
Rai) is beautiful and accomplished, but the
whimsical Mahendra chooses to refuse her as
a wife, having seen only her photograph. So
does Behari. Binodini, therefore, finds another
husband, only to be widowed within a year.
Mahendra finally settles down with Ashalata
(Raima Sen), a girl who was originally engaged
to Behari. Rajlakshmi meets Binodini in her
childhood home and impulsively brings her back
to Calcutta with her.
In Calcutta, Binodini meets the two young men
who she might have married. She is also keenly
aware of the life she has lost and resents the
fact that the naïve Ashalata has what she
cannot. She begins to manipulate Ashalata so
as to get closer to the young men. Ashalata,
on the other hand, is delighted to have someone
else to confide in. She gives Binodini a pet
name, ‘Chokher Bali’ literally meaning
sand in the eye.
Binodini uses her intellect to intrigue Mahendra
and Behari. She embarks on an affair with Mahendra.
However, the affair does not stay a secret for
long. Rajlakshmi,wise to Binodini’s intrigues,insults
her and forces her to leave the house. In despair,
Binodini appeals to Behari, asking him to marry
her or make her his mistress. Behari refuses.
Binodini decides to return to her country home
and chooses exile to Benares.
Benares is a kind of revelation for Binodini,
a melting pot of death, despair and lost hopes
set against the canvas of eternity where she
decides to renounce Mahendra. At this crucial
moment, Behari arrives at Benares bringing the
news of Rajlakshmi’s death with him. He
realizes Binodini’s plight and asks her
to marry him. Binodini agrees, but when the
wedding day arrives, she is nowhere to be found.
She leaves a note for Ashalata saying that freedom
is the final reality,the place where one belongs,the
only thing that one can call one’s own.
The story ends with a widow’s struggle
for freedom being similar to a country’s
struggle for independence!
