Plot: 'Tasher Desh' ('Land of Cards') is a dance drama written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1933. Dedicated to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, it takes a satirical look at tyranny and regimentation and celebrates freedom of speech, thoughts and deeds.
Review: In the story a prince lives in exile with his mother- the abandoned queen. Soudagor Putro (merchant's son) is his only friend. Bored by their claustrophobic and monotonous existence in a dilapidated castle, the duo set upon a voyage. Sailing the high seas, they get shipwrecked and find themselves swept ashore 'Tasher Desh'. In this strange land, the cards are bound by countless innate, 'inhuman' rules. The story unfolds showing how both of them bring about an air of liberation and rebellion, making the cards revolt and eventually break the shackles of tyranny.
Quashik Mukherjee deconstructs this dance drama in his own quirky way. The film starts with an obsessed director (Joyraj) who wants to stage 'Tasher Desh' in today's Kolkata. He walks the streets, sits at empty stations uttering dialogs, looking for people to cast. Glimpses of the drama haunt his dreams till he sees the entire story unfold in front of his eyes. We see the main story of 'Tasher Desh', shot in vivid colors with a graphic novel-esque treatment, through his eyes.
The youthful casting exuberates energy. Tasher Desh has the bright promise of becoming a trippy film, but somewhere towards the end it loses track, becomes self-indulgent and eventually fizzes out! On the 151st anniversary of Tagore, you may love it or pan it but you certainly can't ignore the boldness in the approach.

Reviewed by Ankita Ghosh

Director: Quashik Mukherjee
Writer: Quashik Mukherjee
Cast: Anubrata Basu, Joyraj Bhattacharya, Soumyak Kanti DeBiswas
Length: 112min
Strength: Music
Weakness: Narration
Showbiz Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Quashik Mukherjee
Writer: Quashik Mukherjee
Cast: Anubrata Basu, Joyraj Bhattacharya, Soumyak Kanti DeBiswas
Length: 112min
Strength: Music
Weakness: Narration
Showbiz Rating: 2 out of 5