Trikal

Trikal (Past, Present and Future) is a 1985 Indian movie written and directed by Shyam Benegal, set in Goa during the early 1960s (pre liberation) Period to the last days of colonialism in India, this time involving not the Raj but the Portuguese colony of Goa. The film starred yesteryear actress, Leela Naidu, in a comeback role after many decades.

Trikal
Trikal (Past, Present, Future)
Directed byShyam Benegal
Produced byFreni M Variava
Written byShyam Benegal (Story & Screenplay)
Shama Zaidi (Dialogue)
StarringLeela Naidu
Anita Kanwar
Neena Gupta
Soni Razdan
Dalip Tahil
Naseeruddin Shah
Lucky Ali
Music byVanraj Bhatia
CinematographyAshok Mehta
Edited byBhanudas Divakar
Release date
30 August 1985
Running time
137 min
LanguageHindi, Konkani, Portuguese

The film was selected for the Indian Panorama at Filmotsav 1986, and for the Indian Film Retrospective, Lisbon 1986. It was later invited to the London Film Festival 1986.[1]

Overview

Set in 1961 Goa, when colonial rule of the Portuguese was in its last gasp,[2] the movie revolves around the life and tribulations of a fictional Goan Christian family called "Souza Soares"

Liberally sprinkled with dashes of humor, this is a fast-paced drama about a family and their friends who lived through the transition of Goa from a Portuguese colony to a state governed by India. Ana (Sushma Prakash) is about to become engaged (unwillingly) to the unappealing Erasmo when her beloved grandfather suddenly dies. Her grandmother (Leela Naidu) is so overwhelmed by grief that Ana's engagement is put on hold indefinitely (along with everything else) while granny tries to contact the spirit of her dead husband using her maid Milagrinia (Neena Gupta) as her medium. But her wires get crossed each time and instead of grandpa (Ernesto Souzasuarez), she brings forth ghosts of people the family has wronged in the past. Meanwhile, Anna’s real love - Leon (Dalip Tahil), an anti-Portuguese anarchist, is hiding out in the cellar. At Anna’s engagement to Erasmo (Lucky Ali), she faints because (as he soon finds out) she is pregnant, but not by him. Ruiz (Naseeruddin Shah) also pursues Anna who never reciprocates his feelings. However, Ruiz impregnates Milagrinia. Anna elopes with the love of her life - Leon - leaving a letter and later is revealed that is settled in Portugal with husband and her child whom she names after her grandfather - Ernesto. Milagrinia also gives birth to a baby and is later married to an old man from a foreign land. These and other events are revealed in flashbacks as the now grown up Ruiz [Naseeruddin Shah], a former guest of the house, returns to visit 25 years later.

The film was shot in the ancestral home of Mario Miranda, at Loutolim, Goa, and is loosely based on Miranda and his family. Benegal admitted to having been deeply influenced by Miranda's house and family after a visit, prompting him to make the movie.[3]

The movie ends with Naseeruddin Shah’s monologue which actually questions the action of characters within the movie including his. He wonders what brought him back after so many years. Was it the grand manor? Or Dona Maria? Or Anna? Or was it, in fact, Millagrenia, who in his view was only a servant and a commodity that was reared as fodder for use by others? He then reconciles with himself and his past by questioning how long can a criminal carry the guilt of a past crime? Everything fades under layers of time and all that remains is sweet memory.

Awards

Cast

References
  1. Shyam Benegal Awards
  2. Trikaal - Overview New York Times.
  3. "Mario Miranda was a quintessential Goan: Shyam Benegal". Zee News. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
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