Jaya Ahsan and Churni Ganguly’s latest film Aajo Ardhangini received an overwhelming response from audiences and critics on its opening day, with several screenings selling out after its release in West Bengal on 10 July.
According to Anandabazar Patrika, the Kaushik Ganguly-directed film drew packed houses on its first day and left many viewers visibly emotional after the screenings.
Director Kaushik Ganguly, actors Churni Ganguly and Jaya Ahsan, and singer Iman Chakraborty attended a special screening and audience interaction session at Kolkata’s iconic Nandan cinema on the opening day.
Many viewers struggled to hold back their tears after the screening. Some wiped away tears, while others embraced the cast to express how deeply the film had moved them. Those associated with the project described the emotional response as a strong indication of the film’s early success.
Filmmaker Indranil Roy also praised the film after watching it. He said Kaushik Ganguly had spent the past two decades exploring unique and deeply human relationships in Bengali cinema, but Aajo Ardhangini had taken that journey to a new level.
Roy said the film had every ingredient to become both a commercial success and a critical favourite. He also praised the performances of Ambarish Bhattacharya, Kaushik Sen and Indrasish Roy, describing them as restrained, mature and true to their characters.
He further commended cinematographer Gopi Bhagat, music director Debojyoti Mishra, editor Amit Chattopadhyay, and the music by Anupam Roy, Iman Chakraborty and Lagnajita Chakraborty. According to Roy, their combined work created an atmosphere that lingered long after the film ended.
However, he reserved his highest praise for the film’s two lead actors, Jaya Ahsan and Churni Ganguly. Roy described their performances as the film’s greatest strength and called Churni Ganguly’s performance a “masterclass”.
Criticising the tendency to use superlatives too freely in discussions about acting, Roy said Aajo Ardhangini and the performances of its two leading actors would remind audiences what truly outstanding acting looks like.
Built around the delicate emotional complexities of relationships, separation and memory, Aajo Ardhangini stars Jaya Ahsan and Churni Ganguly in the central roles.
