/socialketchup/media/media_files/2025/01/28/1fAegi7cTim3p1GsoIdX.png)
The Storyteller, a film adaptation of Satyajit Ray’s short story, reflects on the art of storytelling, honouring the master while skilfully drawing from his timeless work.
Storytelling is a fundamental part of being human, not just a luxury or indulgence but a necessity to navigate the complexities of life. Yet, in recent times, the art of storytelling has been overshadowed by the pursuit of pleasing audiences rather than telling meaningful stories. Now, more than ever, we need storytellers to reclaim their voice, to tell the stories they are passionate about—even if the narratives have been told a thousand times. Stanley Kubrick once wisely remarked, “Everything has already been done, every story has been told, every scene has been shot. It's our job to do it one better.” If anything, Ananth Mahadevan’s The Storyteller is a serene reminder that it’s not the story's originality that matters but how the storyteller frames it. To do this, he borrows the wisdom of one of the greatest storytellers, Satyajit Ray!
The film is adapted from Ray’s short story Golpo Boliye Tarini Khuro (The Storyteller Traini Khuro), which follows the intriguing journey of two polar opposite men. Tarini (Paresh Rawal) is a Bengali adventurer with a history of holding 73 jobs and never staying in one for long. However, the one constant in his life is his love for storytelling—stories he’s comfortable speaking aloud but never confident enough to write down. On the other hand, Garodia (Adil Hussain), a businessman from Ahmedabad, who sells luxurious cotton sheets to provide the world some sound sleep, is ironically plagued by insomnia. Desperate for relief, he calls upon a storyteller to share stories in the hopes of finding solace, and Tarini shows up. What unfolds is a tale of unexpected companionship, laced with betrayal, as the businessman begins to exploit the storyteller until both are forced to confront their self-worth.
Also Read: Hisaab Barabar review: A potent message drowned in a formulaic, mindless film!
Ananth Mahadevan and writer Kireet Khurana masterfully adapt Ray’s source material, adding deeply relevant relevance. The two men embody starkly different priorities, paradoxes, and philosophies: Tarini is an escapist, while Garodia is grounded in calculated realism. These differences are not merely thematic—they are intricately woven into the fabric of the storytelling. Tarini, the quintessential Bengali, is portrayed as a romantic with his ardent love for Rabindranath sangeet, fish, sandesh, puchkas, and Durga Puja, constantly surrounded by the visual symbols of Kolkata like the Howrah Bridge. His love for art and literature defines his being. Garodia, on the other hand, is the embodiment of a Gujarati's business acumen, his personality reflected in the meticulousness of his home, his focus on numbers, his possession of books he never reads, and his obsession with success.
It is precisely this contrast that drives the film’s narrative forward. Garodia, who feels the lack of Saraswati both literally and symbolically, takes advantage of Tarini’s stories by publishing them under the pseudonym "Gorgi." Tarini’s response to this betrayal is subtle yet powerful. Rather than directly confronting Garodia, he cleverly leaves the businessman to be exposed as a plagiarist, his transformation reflected even in his gradual fondness for Gujarati cuisine. This dynamic becomes an allegory for the creative process itself, captured beautifully in the film’s opening, where a quote from Man Ray is reversed: “To create is human, to reproduce is divine”, whereas what avant-garde artist meant to say was that to create is an immense desire while to reproduce is an imitation arise out of necessity.
Rawal and Hussain excel in their roles, embodying their characters so seamlessly that the lines between actor and role blur. But the casting of Paresh Rawal as a Bengali and Adil Hussain as a Gujarati is a playful twist as it toys with the audience’s expectations yet adds to their characters' witty, banterful relationship as their real-life ethnic backgrounds flow into fiction, layering irony to their performances and enhancing the on-screen chemistry. Apart from the layered metaphors of the pet cat, the title sequence and the cinematography embraces the film’s sense of weaving a tale—each frame, conversation, and walk through ancient forts speaks volumes beyond the spoken word.
Ultimately, The Storyteller is a film about the power of stories and the storytellers behind them. Tarini and Garodia, though culturally and temperamentally worlds apart, are united by their shared need for stories. But stories alone don’t hold the magic - it is the storyteller who breathes life into them. Both men tell the same tale, but their versions diverge, leaving us to decide which version we prefer. Making the film's real triumph lie in how it rekindles our belief in the craft of storytelling, urging us to value the unique voice behind, no matter how familiar the plot may seem.
The Storyteller is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar!
For more reviews, follow us on @socialketchupbinge.