(The Jewellery Box) is a must-watch Bengali classic that explores the changing roles of women across three generations.
The narrative unfolds in three distinct acts. The first is a witty, domestic dramedy centered on the living, as Somlata battles Chinmoy’s greed for the jewels. The second act is a nostalgic, sepia-toned flashback narrated by Pishima’s ghost, revealing her tragic life: married to a much older zamindar, denied agency, and her only “rebellion” being running away with a lover for a single night, only to be returned in disgrace. The third act returns to the present, where Somlata, learning from Pishima’s story, uses the jewels not for personal vanity but as a tool of emancipation—securing her daughter’s education and her niece’s freedom to choose love over an arranged marriage.
This cinematic adaptation tells the story of three generations of women and their evolving social positions, all centered around a box of valuable jewelry that is handed down through the family. The film premiered in Kolkata on and features an ensemble cast including Moushumi Chatterjee, Konkona Sen Sharma, Srabanti Chatterjee, and Saswata Chatterjee. Bengali Movie Goynar Baksho 2013 12
Konkona Sen Sharma, Moushumi Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy Release Year: 2013
Making a grand return to Bengali cinema, Chatterjee delivers a superlative performance. Her portrayal of a sharp-tongued, comical, and lonely widow is both hilarious and heart-wrenching. (The Jewellery Box) is a must-watch Bengali classic
He plays the meek husband, adding another layer of comedic, domestic conflict. Reception and Legacy
Goynar Baksho is more than just a period piece; it is a celebration of the female spirit. It manages to be funny, spooky, and politically poignant all at once. For fans of Bengali cinema, it stands as a testament to how traditional storytelling can be used to deliver a powerful, modern message. The second act is a nostalgic, sepia-toned flashback
Played by Srabanti Chatterjee, Chaitali represents the modern, liberated woman of the 1970s. She inherits the box in a completely different political climate, ultimately choosing to use the gold for a cause much larger than personal wealth. Themes and Cinematic Brilliance 1. Subversion of the "Pious Widow" Trope
(2013) is a landmark horror-comedy movie directed by Aparna Sen [1]. The film blends ghost folklore, comedy, and social commentary on the changing status of women in Bengali society [1]. Based on a novel by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, it explores three generations of women linked by a single box of jewelry [1].