Jonaki - A phantasmagoria : demystifying cinematic symbolism of film jonaki with reference to surrealistic film theory

Abstract

Surrealism transformed the art of filmmaking and made it possible for it to explore, reveal, and perhaps even duplicate the inner workings of the subconscious mind. In the film Jonaki repetitive symbols helps to understand metaphorical meanings used by the film maker. There are visual motifs which are surrealistic in its own way. This study investigates interpretation of symbols and surrealism in the film Jonaki by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. The whole film in based of dream like sequences of static frame and long shot taking which helps him to evoke emotions within the characters and helps the audience to be within the frame which helps to connect to the story. The excellent art direction (by Jonaki Bhattacharya) and sound design are the ideal accompaniment to the well-planned images (with plenty of natural ambient sounds). Memories and dreams are presented in a visually spectacular way, pushing the events or plots outside the bounds of conventional storytelling. The use of surrealism in space, time and characters makes its illogical and irrational disruptions to convey the atmosphere and incongruous states of dreams. Research methodology used to study the film was descriptive qualitative approach with semiotic method and surrealistic film theory. Symbols used in films like orange, an origami bird, toy soldier, fire, and water depicts characters inner emotions which the character is going through. The indirect way of storytelling makes this film an art film as every scene and frame in itself is like a painting placing the characters in a such way that it gives us understanding the personality of the character making the audience look at the character in different ways. The word phantasmagoria used in the title describes the film as dream like imaginary sequences used in the film which represses reality from consciousness