Soukarya Ghosal

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Soukarya Ghosal

| honorific_suffix = সৌকর্য ঘোষাল

| image = Soukarya Ghosal.jpg

| image_size =

| alt = Soukarya Ghosal

| caption = Soukarya Ghosal at IFFI 2024, Goa

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1986|6|7}}

| birth_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Indian

| citizenship =

| alma_mater = University of Calcutta (BA)

| occupation = {{flat list|

}}

| years_active = 2014 -

| known_for = Rainbow Jelly Bhootpori

| notable_works =

| height =

| spouse = Pooja Chatterjee

| parents =

| relatives =

| awards =

}}

Soukarya Ghosal ({{langx|bn|সৌকর্য ঘোষাল}}; born 7 June 1986) is an Indian filmmaker, director, screenwriter, illustrator and music composer. He is widely considered for his work in Rainbow Jelly, a food fantasy film for the children in Bengali Cinema.{{cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/supplementary/anandaplus/review-of-pendulam-bengali-movie-1.7404|title=দেওয়াল ঘড়ির পিছল সুরে|publisher=Anandabazar Patrika}} His film Bhootpori starring Jaya Ahsan, was an official selection for Indian Panorama at International Film Festival of India,{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/three-bengali-films-shine-at-iffi-aamar-boss-bhootpori-and-onko-ki-kothin/articleshow/114601772.cms|title=3 Bengali films picked for IFFI's non- mainstream Indian Panorama|publisher=The Times of India}} Goa which also received the Best Screenplay award at 14 Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/bengali-horror-comedy-film-starring-jaya-ahsan-receives-prestigious-award/articleshow/109778352.cms|title=Bengali horror comedy film starring Jaya Ahsan receives prestigious award|publisher=The Times of India}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/bhootpori-is-a-strong-reminder-of-what-a-bengali-film-is-capable-of-when-its-original/cid/2000542|title=Bhootpori is a strong reminder of what a Bengali film is capable of when it’s original|publisher=The Telegraph}}

His first feature film Pendulum bagged three awards in the 4th Radio Mirchi Music Awards Bangla in 2014. Ghosal made His second film Load Shedding in 2015{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/115037315-teenage-love-story-kolkatas-power-cut-days-soukarya-ghosals-loadshedding-bangla-mo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220034812/http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/115037315-teenage-love-story-kolkatas-power-cut-days-soukarya-ghosals-loadshedding-bangla-mo|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 December 2015|title=Teenage Love Story in Kolkata's Power-Cut Days: Soukarya Ghosal's "Loadshedding" Bangla Movie on Zee Original Cinema|publisher=Washington Bangla}} which he wrote and directed for Zee Bangla Cinema Originals, was a teenage love story set in the 90's.

His film Rainbow Jelly, a food fantasy film about an autistic orphan received Hiralal Sen Award{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/soukaryas-rainbow-jelly-wins-big/articleshow/68672557.cms|title= Soukarya's Rainbow Jelly wins big|work=The Times of India}} and Rituparno Ghosh{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-winners-of-the-2019-wbfja-awards/photostory/67522300.cms|title= Here's all you need to know about the winners of the 2019 WBFJA Awards|work=The Times of India}} Memorial Award for Most Promising Director from West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. His upcoming films are OCD and Kalantar.{{cite news|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/2019/aug/30/bengali-director-soukarya-ghosal-starts-shooting-bhoot-pori-with-jaya-ahsan-17824.html|title= Bengali director Soukarya Ghosal starts shooting Bhoot Pori with Jaya Ahsan|publisher=The New Indian Express}}

Early life

Ghosal was born and brought up in Kolkata. He attended A. K. Ghosh Memorial School and Jodhpur Park Boys School, and graduated in History from Asutosh College. He did a postgraduate course in Media Studies from University of Calcutta. His admiration for Satyajit Ray's illustrations in Sandesh magazine was a guiding force in his desire to become a professional illustrator.

Career

In 2011, he joined Robbar the Sunday magazine of Sangbad Pratidin as a staff cartoonist and Illustrator. While working on comic series such as Tenida in Sandesh{{cite news|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/marquee/dedicated-film-leela-majumdar-1502637893.html|title=We have dedicated the film to Leela Majumdar|newspaper=The Statesman}} and Tenali Rama in Kishore Bharati, he felt a strong urge for sound and motion in his art. This led him to quit his job and pursue films. Coming directly from the field of art, Ghosal made his first film, Pendulum based on a surrealist painter who could physically take people into the space he drew. It took him a year to find a producer for the film.

= 2014–2015 =

On 7 March 2014, his debut film Pendulum, based on magic realism & time travel{{cite news|url=https://www.imdb.com/news/ni56917911|title=Bengali Film Review: Pendulum|newspaper=IMDb}} was released in West Bengal. This hyperlink film{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/the-industry-is-as-much-about-pendulum-as-it-is-about-chander-pahar-says-srijit-mukherji-in-a-chat-with-debutant-soukarya-ghosal-and-t2/cid/200935|title=The industry is as much about Pendulum as it is about Chander Pahar, says Srijit Mukherji in a chat with debutant Soukarya Ghosal and t2|newspaper=The Telegraph (Calcutta)}} featured Radhika Apte, Rajesh Sharma, Sreelekha Mitra, Rajatabha Dutta, Subhasish Mukherjee, Shantilal Mukherjee, Samadarshi Dutta and Anindiya Banerjee, and was produced by Cozum Analytics Ltd.

In 2015, he made his second film, Load Shedding, for television. A teenage love story set in the 90s, it starred Riddhi Sen, Meghla Dasgupta,{{cite news|url=https://eisamay.indiatimes.com/entertainment/cinema/preview-of-upcoming-bengali-movie-load-shedding-by-bhaswati-ghosh/articleshow/49055920.cms|title=চতুর্থ প্রজন্ম এবার অভিনয়ে|newspaper=Ei Samay}} Bidipta Chakraborty, Saili Bhattacharya and Joydeep Kundu, and was produced by Nideas Creations.

= 2016–2018 =

In 2016, he adapted the story of Taranath Tantrik by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay to rewrite for a television series for Colors Bangla. That year, he worked as the second unit director in Srijit Mukherji's Zulfiqar,{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/my-wife-and-i-left-the-city-after-pendulums-box-office-failure/articleshow/64351267.cms|title= My wife and I left the city after Pendulum's box-office failure: Soukarya Ghosal|newspaper=The Times of India}} produced by Shree Venkatesh Films.

Inspired by the literary world of Leela Majumdar{{cite news|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/may/29/13545|title=Wanted to tell a story that carries essence of eastern culture: Soukarya Ghosal|newspaper=Cinestaan}} in 2017, his film production company Indigenous produced Rainbow Jelly, a food fantasy{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/rainbow-jelly-movie-bengali-indie-cinema-mahabrata-basu-5236197/|title=Adventures of a Little Prince|newspaper=The Indian Express}} in Bengali starring Mahabrata Basu, Anumegha Banerjee, Kaushik Sen, Sreelekha Mitra, Shantilal Mukherjee etc.. The film was based on an autistic orphan child who could control the human mind by cooking food with several tastes. The film depicted the gradual changes in the villain's mind and his seven different reactions{{cite news|url=https://eisamay.indiatimes.com/entertainment/cinema/rainbow-jelly-a-movie-on-food-fantasy/articleshow/56774806.cms|title= দর্শকের পাতে সাতরঙা জেলি|newspaper=Ei Samay}} as he encountered different kinds of tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, pungent, astringent and bitter.{{cite news|url=https://www.thecitizen.in//index.php/en/newsdetail/index/9/14014/rainbow-jelly-a-modern-day-magical-tale-around-food|title=Rainbow Jelly: A Modern Day Magical Tale Around Food}} Rainbow Jelly film got released in West Bengal on 25 May 2018 & got premiered in London{{cite news|url=https://www.londonnet.co.uk/films/rainbow-jelly|title=London Cinemas Showing Rainbow Jelly|newspaper=londonnet.co.uk}} & Bahrain.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/rainbow-jelly-in-bahrain-summer-festival/articleshow/64883380.cms|title=Rainbow Jelly in Bahrain Summer Festival|work=The Times of India}} The film received Hiralal Sen award for best Bengali film of 2018 from FFSI (Federation of Film Societies of India).{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/2019-hiralal-sen-award-10-bengali-films-which-competed-for-the-best-bengali-film-award/photostory/68690835.cms|title=2019 Hiralal Sen Award: The 10 Bengali films which competed for the Best Bengali Film award|work=The Times of India}} Ghosal received the Most Promising Director Award from West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards,{{cite news|url=https://movies.ndtv.com/bengali/interview-of-wbfja-most-promising-director-2019-soukarya-ghoshal-1980994|title=রেনবোজেলি 2 হলে মহাব্রত আবার ঘোতন হবে: সৌকর্য ঘোষাল|newspaper=NDTV}} for Rainbow Jelly.{{cite news|url=https://eisamay.com/entertainment/cinema/untold-journey-in-the-world-of-cinema-of-director-soukarya-ghosal-from-pendulum-to-load-shedding-to-rainbow-jelly-an-personal-account/articleshow/75409659.cms|title=পেন্ডুলাম, লোডশেডিং আর রেনবো জেলি! কী করলাম, কেন করলাম |publisher=Ei Samay}}

In November 2018 Ghosal made emotional thriller{{cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/supplementary/anandaplus/koel-mallick-to-star-in-a-new-thriller-movie-by-soukarya-ghosal-1.896858#.XyPvgox4zmu.link|title= সৌকর্য-কোয়েলের থ্রিলারে আবেগের ছোঁয়া|publisher=Anandabazar Patrika}} Rawkto Rawhoshyo produced by Surinder Films starred Koel Mallick, Lily Chakravarty, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Rwitobroto Mukherjee, Shantilal Mukherjee, Basabdatta Chatterjee etc.

= 2019–present =

In August 2019 he made his fifth feature film Bhootpori a horror fantasy. This is a biography of a ghost who came into existence after the death of a Bengali widow in the eve of the Independence Day of India. The film starred Jaya Ahsan, Ritwick Chakraborty, Sudipta Chakraborty, Shantilal Mukherjee, Bishantak Mukherjee etc.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/soukarya-ropes-in-jaya-ritwick-and-sudiptaa-for-his-next-bhoot-pori/articleshow/70798823.cms|title=Soukarya ropes in Jaya, Ritwick and Sudiptaa for his next 'Bhoot Pori'|work=The Times of India}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/soukarya-ghoshals-bhootpori-is-a-heartwarming-blend-of-fantasy-and-comedy/cid/2000667|title=Soukarya Ghoshal’s Bhootpori is a heartwarming blend of fantasy and comedy|publisher=The Telegraph}}{{cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/review-of-the-bengali-movie-bhoot-pori/cid/1495517|title=এ ভূতের জন্য মনকেমন করে|publisher=Anandabazar Patrika}}{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/entertainment/tollywood/9xkk5fcfmx|title=পঁচাত্তর দিন পেরিয়ে জয়ার ‘ভূতপরী’|publisher=Prothom Alo}}

Rawkto Rawhoshyo was released in theatres on 21 October 2020 during Durga Puja.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/rawkto-rawhoshyo-chronicles-the-journey-of-a-mother-soukarya-ghosal/articleshow/78531645.cms|title='Rawkto Rawhoshyo' chronicles the journey of a mother: Soukarya Ghosal|work=The Times of India}} The film was initially scheduled to release on 10 April 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/release-of-rawkto-rawhoshyo-postponed/articleshow/74955211.cms|title=Soukarya's thriller Release of 'Rawkto Rawhoshyo' postponed - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-04-03}} Bhootpori was released on 9 February 2024{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/bhootpori-is-a-strong-reminder-of-what-a-bengali-film-is-capable-of-when-its-original/cid/2000542|title=Bhootpori is a strong reminder of what a Bengali film is capable of when it’s original|publisher=The Telegraph}} in West Bengal and was screened at the International Film Festival of India, Goa on 25 November 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/movies/iffi-2024-soukarya-ghosal-bhootpori-review-article-12876996.html#goog_rewarded|title=IFFI 2024 Bhootpori review Jaya Ahsan makes for a sparkling ghost in Soukarya Ghosal's fairy tale|publisher=Moneycontrol}}

Filmography

= Films =

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ffc;"| {{dagger|alt=Denotes Upcoming films}}

| Denotes Upcoming films

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Film
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" width=65 \|Director ! scope="col" width=65 \|Writer ! scope="col" width=65 \|Story ! scope="col" width=65 \|Producer ! scope="col" width=65 \|Lyricist ! scope="col" width=65 \|Composer ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
2014 ! scope="row" \| Pendulum \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \|{{Yes}} \| \|
2015 ! scope="row" \| Load Shedding \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \|{{Yes}} \| \|
2018 ! scope="row" \| Rainbow Jelly \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| Hiralal Sen Award for Best Bengali film WBFJA Awards for Most Promising Director (HBFF) award for Best Film (Jury) (HBFF) award for Best Screenplay (Jury) (HBFF) award for Best Film (Viewers' Choice) Nominated - WBFJA Awards for Best Film Nominated - Film Critics Guild Award for Best Bengali Film
2020 ! scope="row" \| Rawkto Rawhoshyo \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \|{{Yes}} \| \|
rowspan="4" \| 2024 ! scope="row" \| Bhootpori \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \| \| \|Best Screenplay award at 14 Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in 2024.{{cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/aamar-boss-bhootpori-and-onko-ki-kothin-to-be-screened-at-iffi-2024/articleshow/114585745.cms\|title=Aamar Boss, Bhootpori, and Onko Ki Kothin to be screened at\|publisher=The Times of India}}{{cite news\|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/2019/aug/30/bengali-director-soukarya-ghosal-starts-shooting-bhoot-pori-with-jaya-ahsan-17824.html\|title=Bengali director Soukarya Ghosal starts shooting Bhoot Pori with Jaya Ahsan\|publisher=Indulge Express}} Official selection for Indian Panorama at International Film Festival of India{{cite news\|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2077456&fbclid=IwY2xjawHBibpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdJelUQin4WS_PT1WxPAMhahHR5bq5ywgqGqc8OuEHH5YUiNwYFv-2i8GQ_aem_2TCfpGCFzGwjph8AHiEbMA\|title=Bhootpori' is more than a horror tale\|publisher=Press Information Bureau}}
style="background:#ffc;" \| OCD \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \| \|{{cite news\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/soukarya-ghoshals-next-is-a-story-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/articleshow/80624539.cms\|title=Soukarya Ghoshal’s next is a story of obsessive compulsive disorder\|publisher=The Times of India}}
style="background:#ffc;" \| Kalantar \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \| \|{{cite news\|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/soukarya-ghosals-new-movie-starring-jaya-ahsan-chandan-roy-sanyal-riddhi-sen/cid/1318434\|title=যাঁরা রয়ে গিয়েছেন অন্তরালে \| publisher=Anandabazar Patrika}}
style="background:#ffc;" \| Pokkhirajer Dim \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \| \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Film

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" width=65 |Director

! scope="col" width=65 |Writer

! scope="col" width=65 |Story

! scope="col" width=65 |Producer

! scope="col" width=65 |Lyricist

! scope="col" width=65 |Composer

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

2014

! scope="row" | Pendulum

|{{Yes}}

2015

! scope="row" | Load Shedding

|{{Yes}}

2018

! scope="row" | Rainbow Jelly

|{{Yes}}

| Hiralal Sen Award for Best Bengali film
WBFJA Awards for Most Promising Director
(HBFF) award for Best Film (Jury)
(HBFF) award for Best Screenplay (Jury)
(HBFF) award for Best Film (Viewers' Choice)
Nominated - WBFJA Awards for Best Film
Nominated - Film Critics Guild Award for Best Bengali Film

2020

! scope="row" | Rawkto Rawhoshyo

|{{Yes}}

rowspan="4" | 2024

! scope="row" | Bhootpori

|{{Yes}}

|Best Screenplay award at 14 Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/aamar-boss-bhootpori-and-onko-ki-kothin-to-be-screened-at-iffi-2024/articleshow/114585745.cms|title=Aamar Boss, Bhootpori, and Onko Ki Kothin to be screened at|publisher=The Times of India}}{{cite news|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/2019/aug/30/bengali-director-soukarya-ghosal-starts-shooting-bhoot-pori-with-jaya-ahsan-17824.html|title=Bengali director Soukarya Ghosal starts shooting Bhoot Pori with Jaya Ahsan|publisher=Indulge Express}}

Official selection for Indian Panorama at International Film Festival of India{{cite news|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2077456&fbclid=IwY2xjawHBibpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdJelUQin4WS_PT1WxPAMhahHR5bq5ywgqGqc8OuEHH5YUiNwYFv-2i8GQ_aem_2TCfpGCFzGwjph8AHiEbMA|title=Bhootpori' is more than a horror tale|publisher=Press Information Bureau}}

style="background:#ffc;" | OCD

|{{Yes}}

|{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/soukarya-ghoshals-next-is-a-story-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/articleshow/80624539.cms|title=Soukarya Ghoshal’s next is a story of obsessive compulsive disorder|publisher=The Times of India}}

style="background:#ffc;" | Kalantar

|{{Yes}}

|{{cite news|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/soukarya-ghosals-new-movie-starring-jaya-ahsan-chandan-roy-sanyal-riddhi-sen/cid/1318434|title=যাঁরা রয়ে গিয়েছেন অন্তরালে | publisher=Anandabazar Patrika}}

style="background:#ffc;" | Pokkhirajer Dim

|{{Yes}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Award !Category !Nominee !Result !Year
rowspan=3\|Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival \|Best Film (Jury Awards) \|Rainbow Jelly \|{{Won}} \|2018
Best Screenplay (Jury Award) \|Soukarya Ghosal \|{{Won}} \|2018
Best Film (Viewers' Choice Award) \|Rainbow Jelly \|{{Won}} \|2018
rowspan=1\| Hiralal Sen Award \|Best Bengali film of the year \|Rainbow Jelly \|{{Won}} \|2019
rowspan=2\| WBFJA Awards \| Most Promising Director \|Soukarya Ghosal \|{{Won}} \|2019
Best Film \|Soukarya Ghosal \|{{Nom}} \|2019
rowspan=1\| Film Critics Guild Award \| Best Film (Bengali) \|Rainbow Jelly \|{{Nom}} \|2019
rowspan=1\| Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival \|Best Screenplay \|Bhootpori \|{{Won}} \|2024

class="wikitable sortable"

Award

!Category

!Nominee

!Result

!Year

rowspan=3|Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival

|Best Film (Jury Awards)

|Rainbow Jelly

|{{Won}}

|2018

Best Screenplay (Jury Award)