Reason, Debate and a Story (1974)

In "Reason, Debate and a Story," the narrative unfolds around Nilkantha, a once-intellectual man now lost in the oblivion of alcoholism. Abandoned by his weary wife, Durga, and their son, he finds himself marooned in the harsh world. Nachiketa, an unoccupied engineer, remains with him, offering a helping hand in these troubled times. Their solitude is disrupted by the arrival of Bangbala, a young refugee from Bangladesh seeking refuge, and Jagannath, a destitute Sanskrit teacher. Bound by their shared isolation, this unlikely quartet embarks on a remarkable journey towards Kanchanpur, the new haven of Nilkantha's estranged wife, Durga. Along the way, they encounter Panchanan Ustad, a master of the traditional chhau dance, and bear witness to a powerful performance of the goddess Durga vanquishing a demon. Their sojourn takes a perilous turn when they walk into a face-off between the tribal locals and an anxiety-ridden landlord, resulting in the tragic death of Jagannath. As they advance towards Durga's home, they traverse through a sal forest, a clandestine sanctuary for the rebel naxalites who watch their progress with hawk-like vigilance. When they finally reach Durga, she shows little joy in Nilkantha's arrival and urges him to leave. But Nilkantha, yearning to see his son under the morning sun's first light, convinces Durga to bring him to the sal forest at dawn. However, the break of day brings a violent police raid against the naxalites. Amidst the chaos, Nilkantha gets caught in the crossfire and meets a tragic end. The aftermath leaves the naxalites decimated and the sal forest returning to its eerie tranquility, with the police carrying Nilkantha's lifeless body out of its depths. In this epic tale that echoes the magnitude of Odyssey, "Reason, Debate and a Story" is a poignant exploration of human connection, personal redemption, and the tragic costs of socio-political unrest.

Reason, Debate and a Story is a drama movie featuring Ritwik Ghatak.

Reason, Debate and a Story is currently streaming on Eros Now.