# Dracula Sir

Dracula Sir is a 2020 Indian Bengali language, neo noir psychological thriller, non-linear structured film directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya and produced by Shrikant Mohata and Mahendra Soni under the banner of SVF. The film starring Anirban Bhattacharya, Mimi Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Rudranil Ghosh, Samiul Alam, Kanchan Mullick, Supriyo Dutta follows the story of a school teacher with a protruding pair of canine teeth, called "Dracula Sir". The film was based on a school teacher who was a Naxalite in his past life.
The film was released in theatres on 21 October 2020, coinciding with Puja holidays. The film was initially scheduled to release on 1 May 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Upon release, Dracula Sir received positive to mixed reviews. Critics praised the performances (Anirban Bhattacharya), the music, costume and makeup, but found the screenplay flawed. The non-linear structured film is based around the story of a revolutionary during the Naxalbari revolution. It was a CPIML party based revolutionary movement around West Bengal which is still going on until 1970's.

## Synopsis

This non-linear structured story tells the events that happened in two eras. The story keeps jumping from the present era where Raktim is a school teacher to the story of Amal, an extremist of the '70s, in the house of his ex-girlfriend Manjari.
In the early '70s, Amal, A Naxalite Flees To Manjari. The film tales a reincarnation spin. In 2020, Raktim Chowdhury is a temporary Bengali teacher in a school in Hooghly. The students wrote 'Dracula Sir' on the blackboard due to his two protruding teeth. Raktim learns about Amal and how he was hiding in Manjari's house and how Manjari could not save him from getting arrested. The tale moves him very much. Raktim starts to think himself the reincarnation of Amal. He starts to hallucinate Manjari.
Later, he is taken to psychiatrists who discover that he is having mental disorder and as a result, associating himself with Amal. Raktim gradually gets cured after getting enough evidence of not being Amal. He finally meets the real Amal, an old man who was once a naxalite, thus proving he is not Amal's reincarnation either. However, Raktim later visits Manjari's house, where Amal had taken his hideout. In the house, Raktim finds a photograph of Manjari with a person who looks exactly like Raktim. Raktim starts to get hallucinations of Manjari again and tells the audiences "Is it any disorder or memories from the past life? Let's keep the question aside."

## Cast

* Anirban Bhattacharya as Amal / Raktim/ Manjari's unnamed husband
* Mimi Chakraborty as Manjari
* Bidipta Chakraborty as Sobita
* Rudranil Ghosh as Katu Mallick
* Samiul Alam as Nata
* Supriyo Dutta as Bhuban Babu (Katu)
* Kanchan Mullick as the psychiatrist
* Saayoni Ghosh in a special appearance

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film is composed by Amit- Ishan, Saqi Banerjee and Durjoy while lyrics are written by Saqi, Ritam Sen and Debaloy Bhattacharya.

## Reception

Madhumanti Pait Chowdhury reviewing for Anandabazar Patrika, felt that the backstory of Naxal movement was needed to establish characters and noticed that several scenes in the film and Dracula's costume were similar to Todd Phillips's Joker. Chowdhury opined that stylization has been given importance by creating some scenes for the sake of cinematic beauty. Chowdhury praised Indranath Marik's cinematography and screenplay by Debalaya and Kallol Lahiri, as some aspects were beautifully woven. Chowdhury also praised the music of the film, acting of Anirban, Vidipta Chakraborty, Supriya Dutt, Kanchan Mallick and Rudranil Ghosh but felt that Anirban-Mimi chemistry needed to boost up. Chowdhury opined that the time-travel, the union of the real and the surreal has taken shape in the film divided into eight episodes.
Debolina Sen writing for Times of India gave three stars out of five and termed it as "A complex tale of life, love and rebirth." Agreeing with Chowdhury she praised the music, costume and makeup. She found screenplay engaging but not without flaws, but direction clear and to-the-point. She also felt that costume was similar to 2019 film Joker. She praised Anirban for portrayals of two different characters of Raktim and Amol from two different eras. Concluding the review she opined, "Dracula Sir is a passionate piece of work that seems to lack in reason at times. But yes, it’s a film you shouldn’t give a miss." Sankhayan Ghosh writing for Film Companion opined that the film was neither a good story nor fun. He felt it was mildly irritating as shortcomings of the screenplay were glossed over with music video like passages.

## Award and nomination

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient/ Nominee | Result |
| 2021 | West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Film | Dracula Sir | Nominated |
| 2021 | West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Director | Debaloy Bhattacharya | Nominated |
| 2021 | West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Actor | Anirban Bhattacharya | Nominated |
| 2021 | West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Bidipta Chakraborty | Won |
| 2021 | West Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Ishan Mitra | Won |