# Hemlock Society (film)

Hemlock Society: Amader Kono Shakha Nei (transl. Hemlock Society: We have no branches) is a 2012 Indian Bengali-language black comedy romantic film written and directed by Srijit Mukherji. Produced by Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni under the banner of Shree Venkatesh Films, the title of the film is inspired by the erstwhile Hemlock Society, based in Santa Monica, US. It stars Koel Mallick and Parambrata Chatterjee in lead roles, while Dipankar De, Roopa Ganguly and Saheb Chatterjee play other pivotal roles. The primary missions of this society included providing information to dying persons and supporting legislation permitting physician-assisted suicide.
The film was announced in November 2011, while the title was announced in December 2011. Principal photography commenced in January 2012 and wrapped in March 2012. The film was predominantly shot in Kolkata. Anupam Roy composed and penned its soundtrack, while Indraadip Dasgupta provided the score. The cinematography and editing of the film were handled by Soumik Halder and Bodhaditya Banerjee respectively.
Hemlock Society was released worldwide on 22 June 2012 opening to positive reviews from the critics. It was remade into Marathi in 2015 as Welcome Zindagi. A sequel named Killbill Society is also in the process.

## Plot

Meghna is a woman who experiences emotional distress following personal losses, including her mother's death and rejection by her fiancé. In search of an escape, she seeks sleeping pills from her doctor father to end her life. However, she is approached by Ananda Kar, the founder of the Hemlock Society, an organization that offers training on various methods of suicide. Ananda persuades Meghna to attend a three-day workshop at the society, which operates from a film studio and features instructors specializing in different suicide techniques.
During her time at the workshop, Meghna meets other participants and experiences a series of events that alter her perception of life. Over the course of the training, she begins to appreciate the value of life and empathizes with the struggles of others. On the final day, Meghna confesses her desire to live and admits that she has developed feelings for Ananda. Ananda reveals that he suffers from lymphocytopenia, a condition that leaves him with only two years to live. This revelation reinforces Meghna's newfound understanding of life’s importance.
Meghna leaves the Hemlock Society and returns to her father, having undergone a transformation in her outlook. Six months later, she reconciles with Ananda, who is hospitalized following a blood transfusion. The film ends on a satirical note, with Meghna's former fiancé, now despondent, becoming a participant at the Hemlock Society.

## Cast

* Koel Mallick as Meghna Sarkar
* Parambrata Chatterjee as Ananda Kar, the owner of Hemlock Society
* Dipankar De as Dr. Chittaranjan "Chitto" Basu, Meghna's Father
* Roopa Ganguly as Niharika Basu, Chitto's second wife and Meghna's Step Mother
* Reeta Basu as Mrs. Sarkar, Chitto's first wife and Meghna's Mother (deceased)
* Saheb Chatterjee as Shantanu, Meghna's boyfriend
* Silajit Majumder as Siddhartha Roy, a Singer
* Anindita Bose as Shreya, Shantanu's love interest
* Biswajit Chakraborty as Inspector

### Special appearances

* Soumitra Chatterjee as Colonel Samaresh Bagchi
* Sabitri Chatterjee as Jhulawn Gupto
* Jeet as himself
* Sabyasachi Chakrabarty as Dr. Dhawmoni Ghosh
* Srijit Mukherji as Dawyal Khashnobish
* Bratya Basu as Raktim Ganguly
* Barun Chanda as Trenlet Biswas
* Raj Chakraborty as Setu Venkataraman
* Indranath Mukherjee as the effeminate history professor
* Akshay Kapoor as Invigilator/ Sign Language Interpreter
* Reetabrata Ghosh as Gun case
* Sudeshna Roy as Shikha Dhar
* Sohag Sen as Miss Cella Neous
* Priyanka Sarkar as Hiya

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack is composed Anupam Roy and Indraadip Dasgupta. All the lyrics are written by Anupam Roy.

## Reception and awards

The film received generally positive reviews by critics. Parambrata Chatterjee's performance was critically applauded, as was Koel Mullik's. It has received 21 awards till now. Srijit Mukherji and Koel Mallick got the Shoilojanando Mukherjee Memorial Awards for Direction and Acting respectively. Parambrata Chatterjee received the Anandalok Award for Best Actor, while Anupam Roy got the Anandalok Award for the Best Song (Ekhon Onek Raat). At the Mirchi Music Awards 2013, it got the Best Album and Best Song (Ekhon Onek Raat) in the Listener's Choice category as well as the Best Male Playback for Rupankar Bagchi for Aamar Mawte. At the 13th Telecine Awards, it got Parambrata Chatterjee the Special Jury Award for acting, and Anupam Roy, the Best Lyricist Award. It also got the Best Movie Poster at the Srijon Shawmman 2013. At the Bengal Youth Awards 2013, Srijit Mukherji and Anupam Roy got the Best Director and the Best Music Director Awards respectively. Anupam Roy also got the Best Male Playback for Ekhon Onek Raat in the ETV Shongeet Shawmman 2013. It also got the prestigious BFJA award, the oldest film award in India, for Best Actress, Best Actor (Jury's choice), Best Male Playback, Best Female Playback (Female) and Best Art Direction. It also fetched the Zee Banglar Gourab Samman for Anupam Roy for Best Lyricist and Male Playback for Ekhon Onek Raat and Best Actress for Koel Mullick.

## Remake

Umesh Ghadge, who has previously worked as an associate director on films like Dhoom and Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, remade the film as Welcome Zindagi in Marathi. Urmila Matondkar had been approached for Koel's role, and Atul Kulkarni, was offered Parambrata's role, however he turned down the project despite taking an immense liking to the script. The titular roles are finally being played by Amruta Khanvilkar and Swapnil Joshi.