The Cloud and the Man
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = File:The_Cloud_and_The_Man_Poster.jpg
| caption =
| native_name = মানিকবাবুর মেঘ
| director = Abhinandan Banerjee
| writer = Abhinandan Banerjee
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Bauddhayan Mukherji
- Monalisa Mukherji}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Chandan Sen
- Debesh Roychowdhury
- Bratya Basu
- Nimai Ghosh}}
| cinematography = Anup Singh
| editing = Abhro Banerjee
| music = Subhajit Mukherjee
| studio = Little Lamb Films
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|||Tallinn Black Nights|2024|7|12|West Bengal}}
| runtime = 97 Minutes
| country = India
| language = Bengali
}}
The Cloud and the Man (also known as Manikbabur Megh) is a Bengali film directed by debutant director Abhinandan Banerjee and produced by Buaddhayan and Monalisa Mukherji.{{Cite web |title=Loneliness is almost like a pandemic now, my film has its origin in the curse of loneliness on us: Director of IFFI 52 Film "Manikbabur Megh" |url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1774850 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=pib.gov.in}} Actor Chandan Sen who portrayed the title role bagged the Best Actor Award at the 19th Pacific Meridian Film Festival, Russia.{{Cite web |title=Manikbabur Megh: Actor Chandan Sen wins the Best Actor Award at a Russian film festival |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/manikbabur-megh-actor-chandan-sen-wins-the-best-actor-award-at-a-russian-film-festival/d7792b120d728 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=সংবাদদাতা |first=নিজস্ব |title=মেঘের সঙ্গে প্রেম, আন্তর্জাতিক মঞ্চে চমক নতুন বাংলা ছবি ‘মানিকবাবুর মেঘ’ |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/an-affair-with-cloud-manikbabur-megh-got-recommendation-in-international-film-circuit-dgtl/cid/1262849 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.anandabazar.com |language=bn}} The film got selection at the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival 2025 under the Eikhoigi Montage section.{{Cite web|url=https://powercorridors.in/imphal-film-festival-unveils-diverse-lineup-with-57-films-showcasing-manipuri-classics/|title=Imphal Film Festival Unveils Diverse Lineup with 57 Films, Showcasing Manipuri Classics|author=Navin Upadhyay|website=powercorridors.in}}
Cast
- Chandan Sen as Manik Babu
- Debesh Roychowdhury as Kali
- Bratya Basu as Dr. Sadhan
- Nimai Ghosh as Madhab
- Arun Guhatharkurta
- Arya Mallick
Plot
Using monochrome cinematography, The Cloud and the Man is a surreal and philosophical reflection on one recently-bereaved middle aged man and his accidentally complex yet meaningful relationship with a cloud. It is about Manik Babu, who makes friends with a cloud which he feels, keeps following him.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Manik Babur Megh - SRFSB |url=https://srfsb.co.in/movieprogramme/manik-babur-megh-2/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |language=en-US}} In the beginning, he is terrified but with time, he feels a strange bonding with the same cloud which strips him of his utter isolation, his loneliness and his alienation from the world around him.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-17 |title=The Cloud & The Man (Manikbabur Megh) - film review |url=https://www.dmovies.org/2021/11/17/the-cloud-the-man-manikbabur-megh/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=DMovies |language=en-GB}} This surreal relation brings out a new Manik in him and propels him into a roller coaster journey of faith, betrayal, belief, and warmth.{{Cite web |last=A.K |first=Arun |date=2022-10-24 |title=The Story of a Man’s Friendship With a Cloud |url=http://hyperallergic.com/772503/the-cloud-the-man-abhinandan-banerjee/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Hyperallergic |language=en-US}}
Release
The film released in theaters in West Bengal on 12 July 2024.{{Cite web |title=Manikbabur Megh gears up for a hall release with a brand new song by Anirban Bhattacharya |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/manikbabur-megh-gears-up-for-a-hall-release-with-a-brand-new-song-by-anirban-bhattacharya/ce02b2eda6440 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}
Awards and Nominations
It had its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival{{Cite web |title=The Cloud & the Man |url=https://poff.ee/en/film/the-cloud-the-man/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=poff.ee |language=en}} where it opened the First Feature competition in Nov 2021. The Indian Premiere was at IFFI, Goa{{Cite web |title=Kolkata-based director’s debut film to be screened at Edinburgh Film Festival |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/lifestyle/kolkata-based-director-abhinandan-banerjees-debut-film-manikbabur-megh-to-be-screened-at-edinburgh-film-festival/cid/1876301 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}} and the North American Premiere took place at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The film finds place in the coveted list of FIPRESCI India's Top 10 Films of 2021 {{Cite web |title=FIPRESCI-India announces Grand-Prix-2021 |url=https://fipresci.org/news/grand-prix-india-2021/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |language=en-GB}} and has won the NETPAC award for the Best Asian Film at the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Winners of 2021 - Kolkata International Film Festival |url=https://kiff.in/archive/2021/winners |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=kiff.in |language=en}} It also bagged the Chidananda Dasgupta Award and a citation for a feature film by a debut director for the 2nd year of the Chidananda Dasgupta Centenary Awards.{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=North East Film |date=2022-11-24 |title=Film Review: Abhinandan Banerjee’s Manik Babur Megh: Winner of the Chidananda Dasgupta Centenary Award for the Best Debut Feature Film |url=https://northeastfilmjournal.com/film-review-abhinandan-banerjees-manik-babur-megh-winner-of-the-chidananda-dasgupta-centenary-award-for-the-best-debut-feature-film |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=North East Film Journal |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=tt13895976}}
- {{Facebook|id=thecloudandtheman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cloud and the Man}}
Category:2020s Bengali-language films
Category:Bengali-language Indian films
Category:Indian black-and-white films