Critical response Poorna Banerjee from Times Of India reviewed the film and said that Dabaru is inspired by Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly’s life. It follows young Souro, a chess prodigy from a poor family in North Kolkata. His grandfather (Dipankar Dey) teaches him chess with his mother Karuna's (Rituparna Sengupta) support, despite his father’s objections. Souro meets his coach (Chiranjeet), who trains him to compete and pursue his dream of becoming a Grandmaster. Director Pathikrit Basu keeps the pace quick, while cinematographer Madhura Palit beautifully captures North Kolkata's streets, with sharp editing that highlights details like old chess sets. The story resembles Dangal but focuses on family bonds. A deeper explanation of chess could benefit those unfamiliar with the game, yet the film primarily emphasizes relationships. Samadarshi Sarkar delivers a natural performance as young Souro, and Arghya Basu Roy portrays the teenage version effectively. Dipankar Dey plays the hopeful grandfather, while Rituparna Sengupta embodies the dedicated mother. Shankar Chakravarty shows notable growth as Souro’s father, and Chiranjeet shines as Coach Rathijit. The music, including the title track Dabaru and the romantic song Jhogra kori chol, is enjoyable. Although the second half loses some intensity, Dabaru remains engaging, making it worth watching even for those less familiar with chess.
The Telegraph highlights that sports biopics are rare in Bengali cinema, especially about a young chess prodigy. Director Pathikrit Basu deserves praise for telling the story of Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly, though the film focuses more on Souro’s bond with his mother. Souro, a boy from North Kolkata with a talent for chess, gets support from his grandfather Nabin (Dipankar Dey) and mother Karuna (Rituparna Sengupta) as they help train him. Coach Rathindra Chakraborty (Chiranjeet) discovers Souro at a tournament, but Souro faces challenges like a lack of sponsors and difficulties accessing government support. After a family emergency, coaching shifts to Samiran (Koushik Sen), whose strict methods and Souro's teenage romance distract him from his goal of becoming a Grandmaster. The film leans into melodrama, featuring loud dialogue, and some subplots, such as a money lender (Kharaj Mukherjee) and nosy neighbors (Biswanath Basu and Sanghasree Sinha), do not enhance the story. It also lacks the excitement of chess, often showing pieces moving without explaining the game’s strategy. The bond between Souro, his mother, and grandfather is central. Dipankar Dey conveys hope as the grandfather, while Rituparna Sengupta shows a mother finding joy in her son’s success. Samadarshi Sarkar is natural as young Souro, and Arghya Basu Roy impresses as the teenager. Chiranjeet is a likable coach, and Koushik Sen leaves an impression as the strict coach. Madhura Palit’s cinematography captures Kolkata in the 1980s and ’90s, creating beautiful visuals with light and shadow.
Controversies Ganguly clarified his real father wasn't alcoholic, calling that "dramatic liberty to heighten conflict". Director Basu defended the coach's brutality: "We needed a tangible antagonist since poverty isn't visually dynamic". == References ==