Aabar Jadi Iccha Karo preview: Wish-fulfilling take on a tragic same-sex love story

In February 2011, two young women, Swapna Mondal and Sucheta Mondal, committed suicide, tied together at the hip by a towel, in Nandigram, West Bengal. Their bodies remained unclaimed by their families and the village.

Swapna had written a six-page suicide note titled 'My Life', in which she had mentioned their final wish to be cremated together. This wish was not heeded by the families. Their love story was tragic in life and in death, and was widely reported in the media.

In Aabar Jadi Iccha Karo, director Debalina recreates their story in a feature fiction format with the letter as the centre point. The story is narrated from Swapna's perspective. But Debalina spins their tale. The letter is the only fact in this story, the rest is imagination.

What would have happened if Swapna and Sucheta’s suicide attempt had failed and they had managed to run away to another city and lived together? Debalina imagines the scenario with simplicity and empathy. 

Swapna and Sucheta attempt to restart their life in Kolkata, whose lanes and bylanes are captured in their most raw form here, by hiding their original identities and their relationship, and coming to terms with who they really are, instead of yearning for acceptance and approval from others. 

While many homosexual women have succumbed to the politics of hatred and intolerance, the film tries to explore the possibility of hope and compassion.

Watch this film for the sensitive performances by Farha Khatun and Manisha Bilkis (who play Swapna and Sucheta, respectively) and for Debalina's realistic and intimate portrayal, which will make you feel like you are witnessing the real Swapna and Sucheta on screen. After all, many Swapnas and Suchetas are still among us. 

Watch the Aabar Jadi Iccha Karo trailer here:

Aabar Jadi Iccha Karo will be screened at the IAWRT Asian Women's film festival at the India International Centre, New Delhi, on Wednesday 7 March 2018 at 7:20 pm. It is the closing film of the festival.