Arindam Sil’s “Jongole Mitin Mashi” draws inspiration from Suchitra Bhattacharya’s book, “Saranday Shoytan,” and offers an action-adventure with a compelling conservation message. For fans of Koel Mallick’s previous action-packed roles, this film showcases her in a different light, emphasizing a crucial environmental message.
The plot unfolds as Mitin, or Pragyaparamita Mukherjee (Koel Mallick), takes on a case that leads her deep into the Saranda forests, where ruthless poachers are targeting elephants for their tusks. Accompanying her on this mission are her husband, Partha (Subhrajit Dutta), niece Tupur (Lekha Chatterjee), sister Saheli (Kamalika Banerjee), and brother-in-law Abani (Ashim Roy Chowdhury), all of whom inadvertently become part of her investigation. While Mitin is determined to keep her family out of harm’s way, they choose to assist her, disregarding her warnings.
Conservation plays a significant role in this movie, underlined by stunning, well-captured scenes of the forests and wildlife, along with frequent reminders of the importance of maintaining ecological balance. Mitin is resolute in her zero-tolerance stance against those disrupting this equilibrium, a principle that motivates her to take on the case, at the request of Divisional Forest Officer Aniruddha Sen, even if it deviates from the book’s narrative.
Koel Mallick once again delivers a powerful performance as Mitin, commanding the screen with her dialogue delivery and physical prowess. Tupur, her trusty sidekick, is portrayed as a smart and observant character by Lekha Chatterjee. Kamalika Banerjee and Ashim Roy Chowdhury inject humor into the otherwise serious storyline as her sister and brother-in-law, while Subhrajit Dutta skillfully portrays her constantly concerned husband, Partha.
The music composed by Bickram Ghosh, particularly the foot-tapping “Dhamsha Dhitam” (performed by Timir Biswas and Iman Chakraborty) and the haunting “Gahana Upavana” (sung by Shubha Mudgal), adds depth to the film. The background score and sound effects enhance the cinematic experience, although certain CGI and action sequences could have been improved. In some instances, Koel Mallick’s expressions might have been more fluid, perhaps missing the spark from her earlier feisty detective role. The ending could also have been more concise. Nevertheless, “Jongole Mitin Mashi” is a family-friendly entertainer that warrants attention for its vital message of forest conservation.