Hok Kolorob (2026) [Movie Review] — Saswata Holds This Story of Student Unrest Together

Hok Kolorob (2026) — Raj Chakraborty returns with a Bengali-language vigilante political thriller that mines campus grief and rage for dramatic effect. Anchored by a quietly authoritative Saswata Chatterjee, the film is sincere in intent, uneven in execution, and ultimately worth watching for its performances and topical pulse.

Plot & Premise

The film opens on a campus scarred by the tragic death of a fresher in a hostel — an incident that ignites grief, anger, and escalating unrest. What follows is a tense meditation on ragging, institutional failure, and the volatile alchemy of youth and ideology. As protests swell and authority strains to contain them, personal stories thread through the collective trauma, giving the narrative its emotional stakes.

Direction & Screenwriting

Raj Chakraborty wears both director and writer credits, and his sincerity is never in doubt. He tackles a timely subject with visible intent, choosing emotional resonance over easy sloganeering. The screenplay delivers strong, sharp bits of dialogue that capture grief and frustration, and Chakraborty stages the campus sequences with an eye for crowd dynamics. However, the script sometimes lets melodrama creep in; in the latter half, the tone tilts toward heightened spectacle, which undercuts the film’s earlier restraint.

Performances

Saswata Chatterjee is the film’s anchor. As the police officer tasked with managing an increasingly combustible situation, he brings measured control and gravitas, lending credibility to scenes that might otherwise tip into theatricality. Among the younger cast, John Bhattacharya stands out for emotional sincerity, while Rohaan (Rohhaan/Rohaan — credited name variations noted in promotions) Bhattacharjee brings intensity and useful restraint to his officer role. Sreya Bhattacharya offers a natural, understated presence that humanizes the unrest. The ensemble often elevates material that occasionally flirts with cliché.

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Technical Merits

Technically, the film is ambitious but inconsistent. Several campus visuals and crowd set-pieces are staged well — they convey scale and urgency — but some action beats lack choreography finesse and cinematic polish. Editing mid-film feels uneven, affecting pacing and momentum; the film’s rhythm recovers in places but never fully smooths out. Small attempts at comic relief inside serious sequences sometimes jar the mood rather than relieve it.

Music & Sound Design

The background score plays a significant role in shaping the film’s mood. At its best, the score amplifies tension and empathy; at its worst, it becomes intrusive, overpowering quieter performances and reducing emotional subtlety. A more restrained musical approach would have allowed certain scenes — particularly the quieter confrontations — to breathe and land with greater impact.

Themes & Relevance

Hok Kolorob foregrounds urgent issues — ragging, institutional neglect, student activism, and the fragile divide between protest and violence. The film’s willingness to engage these themes without flinching is commendable, and its emotional core is often compelling. The narrative raises questions rather than tidy answers, which is appropriate for such material, even if the film occasionally leans into spectacle when nuance would serve it better.

Strengths & Shortcomings

Strengths: committed lead performance from Saswata Chatterjee, topical subject matter handled with conviction, moments of genuinely powerful drama, and convincing crowd staging.

Shortcomings: uneven editing and pacing, occasional melodramatic excess, an overbearing background score at times, and some under-explored supporting character arcs.

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Final Verdict

Hok Kolorob is a heartfelt Bengali political thriller that does more right than wrong. It will resonate most with viewers who appreciate performance-driven social dramas and are willing to forgive cinematic lapses for emotional honesty. Raj Chakraborty’s film might not be flawless, but its core — anchored by Saswata’s assured presence — keeps it grounded and worth a watch. Recommended for audiences interested in campus politics, vigilante narratives, and socially-conscious Bengali cinema.

Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)