Trikal


Trikal is a 1985 Indian movie written and directed by Shyam Benegal, set in Goa during the early 1960s Period to the last days of colonialism in India, this time involving not the Raj but the Portuguese colony of Goa. The film starred yesteryear actress, Leela Naidu, in a comeback role after many decades.
The film was selected for the Indian Panorama at Filmotsav 1986, and for the Indian Film Retrospective, Lisbon 1986. It was later invited to the London Film Festival 1986.

Overview

Set in 1961 Goa, when colonial rule of the Portuguese was in its last gasp, the movie revolves around the life and tribulations of a fictional Goan Christian family called "Souza Soares"
Liberally sprinkled with dashes of humor, this is a fast-paced drama about a family and their friends who lived through the transition of Goa from a Portuguese colony to a district governed by India. Ana is about to become engaged to the unappealing Erasmo when her beloved grandfather suddenly dies. Her grandmother is so overwhelmed by grief that Ana's engagement is put on hold indefinitely while granny tries to contact the spirit of her dead husband using her maid Milagrinia as her medium. But her wires get crossed each time and instead of grandpa, she brings forth ghosts of people the family has wronged in the past. Meanwhile, Ana's real love, an anti-Portuguese anarchist, is hiding out in the cellar. As Ana's marriage to Erasmo draws near, she faints dead away because she is pregnant, but not by him. Ruiz was also pursuing Ana who never reciprocates the same. However, Ruiz impregnates Milagrinia Nina Gupta. Ana elopes with the love of her life leaving a letter and later is revealed that is settled in Portugal with husband and her child whom she names after her grandfather. Milagrinia also gives birth to a baby and is later married to and old man from another village. These and other events are revealed in flashbacks as the now grown up Ruiz , a former resident in the house, returns to visit 25 years later.
The film was shot in the ancestral home of Mario Miranda, at Loutolim, Goa, and is loosely based on Miranda and his family. Benegal admitted to having been deeply influenced by Miranda's house and family after a visit, prompting him to make the movie.
The movie ends with Naseeruddin Shah monologue which actually questions the action of characters within the movie including his.

Awards