Ballabhpurer Roopkotha (2022)

Ballabhpurer Roopkotha is a 2022 Indian Bengali language supernatural comedy drama film directed by Anirban Bhattacharya in his feature directorial debut,[1][2] based on the 1954 eponymous play by Badal Sarkar.[2][3][4] It follows a debt-laden royal scion as he tries to pay off creditors by selling his ancestral palace, while trying to hide a potentially deal-breaking secret. The plot was originally inspired by the film The Ghost Goes West by René Clair.[5]

The film was released on 25 October 2022 under the banner of Shree Venkatesh Films.[6] It received strongly positive reviews,[5][7][8][3][9] and was a box office success.

In 1961, Ray Bahadur Bhupati Ray, the King of Ballabhpur village, is crippled by debt. His only material asset is his 400-year-old ancestral palace, which is in a dilapidated condition. Bhupati wants to move to Kolkata and start a dental clinic, and he tries to sell the palace to pay off his debts.

As a prospective buyer, businessman Mr Haldar, informs him that he will come over to take a look at the property, Bhupati and his faithful butler Monohar set about to freshen up the house. They enlist help from three of Bhupati’s local creditors, Saha, Srinath and Paban. Bhupati’s college friend Sanjib helps out by playing the estate’s dewan.

Mr Haldar arrives that night with his wife Sapna and daughter Chhandaa. Contrary to Bhupati’s expectations, he is mightily impressed by the heritage structure and the aristocratic flavour of the household. Haldar immediately signs him a Ballabhpurer Roopkotha cheque for the property. Chhandaa and Bhupati feel instantly attracted to each other. As the Haldars leave after dinner, Bhupati confesses to Sanjib what he has concealed from the buyers: Every night after 11PM, the palace is roamed by the ghost of Raghupati, Bhupati’s ancestor who was trapped there by a curse. Raghu da, as he calls him, can only free himself by forcing a surrender and apology from a descendant of the Bhuiyas, royals of Ballabhpur’s rival kingdom, Pratapgarh. Sanjib doesn’t believe him, but is frightened by Raghu’s laughter ringing out as the clock strikes 11.

The almost crumbling Rajbari of Ballabhpur only has two men living — the last descendant of Ray dynasty, Bhupati Ray, and his inherited menial, Manohar. Both the dwellers are overburdened with heavy debts and seek no hope of betterment until one day, Kolkata’s soap King, Mr. Haldar, plans buying the property. Can Bhupati Ray and Manohar succeed in selling it?