When the Red Flag Fades

Srijit Mukherji is arguably the most prolific filmmaker in Bengali cinema. His prodigious output inevitably raises questions about his versatility and creative consistency, just as his impressive tally of awards invites scrutiny of his artistic credentials. Yet his recent films, Shotti Bole Shotti Kichu Nei and Padatik, a bio-fiction on filmmaker Mrinal Sen, demonstrate his creative range and assured choice of subjects. With Winkle Twinkle, Mukherji reinforces his standing as one of the more...

min read

Srijit Mukherji is arguably the most prolific filmmaker in Bengali cinema. His prodigious output inevitably raises questions about his versatility and creative consistency, just as his impressive tally of awards invites scrutiny of his artistic credentials. Yet his recent films, Shotti Bole Shotti Kichu Nei and Padatik, a bio-fiction on filmmaker Mrinal Sen, demonstrate his creative range and assured choice of subjects. With Winkle Twinkle, Mukherji reinforces his standing as one of the more distinctive and enduring filmmakers in Indian cinema. Sixteen years after his directorial debut, Autograph, a personal take on Satyajit Ray’s Nayak, he continues to experiment with form and subject. Like several of Mukherji’s films, Winkle Twinkle draws inspiration from a celebrated Bengali play of the same name, written by Bratya Basu and staged in 2002. Basu, a formidable figure in Bengali theatre before turning to full-time politics, had drawn on Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, first published in 1819. Irving’s protagonist falls asleep and wakes up years later to discover that the world has changed beyond recognition while he remains essentially the same. Mukherji and screenwriter Padmanabha Dasgupta transpose this premise to contemporary Kolkata, turning it into a sharp political allegory. Sabyasachi Sen, a committed Communist activist, is presumed killed in police firing during the Emergency in 1976. His body is never found. In reality, he falls asleep and awakens in 2002, physically unchanged but confronted by a world that has moved on without him. The shock begins at home. His wife has aged, and his children have grown up. His son, Indro, who idolised Che Guevara alongside his father as a child, has become an active supporter of the Trinamool Congress. He has little patience for his father’s unwavering allegiance to the CPI(M), a party whose ideological universe has been shaken by the collapse of the Soviet Union. His daughter, born after his disappearance, studies at Indira Gandhi University, a name that evokes for Sabyasachi only the prime minister associated with the Emergency. Posters announcing Mamata Banerjee’s rise confront him on Kolkata’s streets. The political landscape has changed beyond recognition, but Sabyasachi cannot accept that the movement to which he devoted his life has lost its former certainty. Technology bewilders him. More distressing, however, is the discovery that an old party comrade has become a leader of a new political formation and amassed wealth through dubious means. The revolutionary’s world has not merely changed; its moral foundations appear to have crumbled. His wife, once his comrade and fellow traveller, offers him refuge, welcoming his return with affection. Their son, however, refuses to accept him readily. The father-son conflict becomes a confrontation between two political generations: one shaped by ideological conviction and sacrifice, the other by a more pragmatic politics of power. The film moves back and forth through time, mirroring Sabyasachi’s bewilderment and drawing the audience into his confusion. Politics, technology, education and popular culture have all changed, often in ways he cannot comprehend. Some of the sharpest moments are also the most humorous. Sabyasachi recalls filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak marching in a Marxist procession, unaware of how cinema has changed and that another Hrithik — Roshan — is now the more familiar name. When a man at a tea stall expresses astonishment that he has never heard of Sachin Tendulkar, Sabyasachi walks away, explaining that the only Sachin he knows is Sachin Dev Burman. A particularly telling image captures the film’s political imagination: a street magician’s scarf changes from red to green. The symbolism is unmistakable. The red of the Left, once dominant in Bengal, gives way to the green associated with the Trinamool Congress. The cinematography is equally impressive, particularly the transition from colour to black-and-white when the narrative revisits the past. Ritwik Chakraborty is outstanding as Sabyasachi, convincingly conveying the bewilderment and stubbornness of a man unable to reconcile his convictions with reality. Anasuya Majumdar as his middle-aged wife and Sohini Sarkar as her younger self provide strong support. The sudden violence in the father-son confrontation is perhaps the film’s principal weakness, disrupting an otherwise nuanced exploration of ideological estrangement. Yet, Winkle Twinkle remains one of Mukherji’s finest films. Its central insight is both poignant and political: Sabyasachi’s tragedy lies not simply in having lost years of his life, but in discovering that history has moved on without him and that the revolution he believed would change the world has itself become a relic of the past. (The writer is an National Award-winning film scholar.)

Why Women Are Better Investors Than Men

Kaustubh Kale

Mar 9, 2025

2 min read

Updated: Mar 10, 2025

As the world celebrated International Women's Day, discussions centered around women's achievements in various fields—business, leadership, science, and beyond. But one area where women consistently outperform men, yet receive little recognition, is investing.

Despite money management often being seen as a male-dominated field, women have quietly and consistently proven to be better investors than men. With patience, discipline, and a long-term mindset, women naturally possess qualities that make them superior money managers.

A Perfect Blend of Knowledge and Wealth

In Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati symbolizes knowledge, while Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth—two essential pillars of investing. The ability to manage wealth wisely stems from a deep understanding of financial principles, and this is where women excel. They take the time to learn, analyze, and make informed investment decisions rather than rushing into trends or speculation.

Why Women Make Better Investors

Several traits make women stand out as investors:

Patience and Long-Term Vision: Unlike men, who may be more prone to impulsive trading and get-rich-quick schemes, women tend to have a longer term mindset. Their ability to stay calm, especially during market fluctuations, leads to better returns over time.

Disciplined and Goal-Based: Women prioritize consistent savings and goal-based investing. This disciplined approach helps them build wealth steadily. Women naturally excel at budgeting, planning, and structuring investments to align with future goals, whether it’s children’s education, home buying, or retirement security. Their emotional connection with goals is what makes them stick to discipline.

Risk-Aware, Not Risk-Averse: Contrary to the stereotype, women are not afraid of risks—they are just more calculated about them, through appropriate asset allocation. Eventually, this approach ensures maximum returns with minimal risks.

Trust and Willingness to Learn: Women value education and expertise, making them more likely to seek guidance from a well-qualified financial advisor. Unlike men, who often overestimate their investing abilities, women approach financial decisions with a willingness to learn. Once they find a trusted expert, they follow sound advice instead of making emotional, short-term moves.

Women Leading the Financial World

These qualities are why many of the world’s leading financial institutions are now led by women. In India and abroad, we see prominent banks, asset management companies, and investment firms thriving under female leadership. Their ability to combine strategic thinking with emotional intelligence makes them exceptional at managing money—both at a personal and professional level.

Final Thoughts

With their trust in expert advice and a strong focus on financial education, more women should embrace their strengths and take control of their financial futures!