Ranna Baati is a quietly affecting Bengali family drama from writer-director Pratim D. Gupta that treats food as memory, grief, and the bridge between estranged lives. Anchored by Ritwick Chakraborty’s unshowy lead and a winsome turn from Sohini Sarkar, the film simmers slowly, rewarding patience with genuine emotional heat.
Story & Structure
A simple premise that unfolds like a comforting meal
At its core, Ranna Baati follows widower Shantanu Dasgupta (Ritwick Chakraborty), who, upon finding his late wife Supriya’s handwritten recipes, embarks on a hesitant attempt to reconnect with their teenage daughter Mohor (Ida Dasgupta). What begins as a comic sequence of burnt dal and forgotten stoves becomes a surprisingly poignant odyssey of repair. The screenplay favors small domestic beats over melodrama: each recipe functions as a narrative unit that reveals memory, regret, or a tender moment of rapprochement. The structure is deliberately leisurely — some viewers may find the pacing languid, but the film’s tempo reflects the work of healing itself.
Performances
Naturalistic acting gives the film its emotional credibility
Ritwick Chakraborty anchors the film with the easy, humane charm he’s known for. His Shantanu is fallible and quietly funny: a man learning to hold a ladle and a conversation. Ida Dasgupta as Mohor balances teenage impatience with the ache of loss; she carries the character’s resentment and gradual thaw with subtlety. Sohini Sarkar’s Rita Ray — the benevolent cooking instructor — is the film’s moral and culinary compass, offering warmth without sentimentality. Supporting turns from Anirban Chakrabarti and Barun Chanda add texture: the former supplies light relief, the latter brings a melancholy gravitas in his portrayal of Shantanu’s ailing father.
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Direction & Writing
Pratim D. Gupta cooks with restraint and empathy
Gupta’s script treats food as a metaphor without ever becoming precious. Instead of leaping to neat solutions, he lets scenes breathe: a failed omelette, an awkward lesson, a quiet meal shared in half-darkness. This restraint is the film’s strength; it trusts the audience to feel rather than to be told. Occasionally, the narrative feels stretched — a tighter edit would have sharpened the emotional arc — but the movie’s honesty and compassionate eye for domestic detail largely compensate.
Visuals & Sound
Cinematic close-ups and a delicious soundscape make cooking feel cinematic
Cinematography lingers lovingly on hands, steam, and simmering pots; the camera’s intimacy turns ordinary kitchen acts into ritual. Warm, homey color tones and close framings help the viewer inhabit Shantanu’s awkward apprenticeship. The sound design—clinks, sizzles, and the hiss of a pressure cooker—becomes part of the film’s language, while the musical moments, including Shreya Ghoshal’s melodic title track, underscore the film’s emotional beats without overpowering them.
Themes & Impact
Nourishing bonds — about memory, care, and the language of food
Beyond the recipes, Ranna Baati asks what it takes to be present: to listen, to try, and to fail without giving up. Food becomes a way to re-learn intimacy and to translate pain into care. The film also gestures toward generational differences in grief and communication, and it celebrates the small, repeatable acts that rebuild trust. It’s not a grand redemption tale but a modest, believable portrait of healing.
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Verdict — Who should watch?
A comforting film for viewers who savour character and slow warmth
Ranna Baati is recommended for audiences who enjoy character-driven Bengali family dramas and films where culinary detail carries emotional weight. If you prefer high stakes and rapid plot turns, its gentle rhythm may feel slow, but if you appreciate films that make ordinary life feel resonant, Pratim D. Gupta’s movie is a nourishing watch. With honest performances and a heartwarming premise, Ranna Baati leaves you full — if not exactly sated — and grateful for the simple work of coming home.
Rating: 7/10