Chhaad poster sees Paoli Dam set out in search of freedom

The National Film Development Corporation of India released the poster of Indrani Chakraborty’s upcoming film Chhaad (The Terrace) on Twitter on 22 May.

Starring Paoli Dam, Rahul Banerjee and Rajnandini Paul, the film was screened at Palais G as part of the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival on 23 May.

Dam shared the news on Twitter in multiple posts, hinting at the storyline of her character in the film. She wrote, “Perturbed with her married responsibilities, a writer and schoolteacher’s identity issues trigger when she is denied access to the terrace - Her open space (sic).”

Chhaad is the first feature film of the director, who is known for her National award-winning documentary film Ladakh Chale Rickshawala.

In the film, Chhaad signifies freedom and liberation. Dam plays the protagonist, who finds her personal space on the terrace.

The film has been mostly shot in Kolkata. In the poster, the actress can be seen in one of the city’s iconic yellow taxis while some of the heritage buildings of the Esplanade area can be seen in the background. Dam’s gesture and expression suggest that perhaps after being denied access to the small terrace of her house, she ventures out to explore her own freedom in the world outside.

Incidentally, Dam’s controversial Bengali-language erotic drama Chatrak (Mushrooms), directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara, was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the festival in 2011.