In Devi-elopment: Deepanjana Pal writes on Durgas in cinema

A lot of ‘strong’ roles tend to be crafted almost as male characters, then played by women. A few streaming shows are finally changing this.

The gap between reel and real is rarely as pronounced as it is with Durga Puja.

The film CTRL by Vikramaditya Motwane is effective, if imperfect. Crucially, Ananya Panday’s character Nella isn’t someone who could shapeshift into a Neil.

The Bengalis’ favourite festival is held in sweat-drenched October. In defiance of logic, we dress up in shiny new clothes and head out to partake in the pleasures of pandal-hopping, knowing full well that, in seconds, the weather and sheer volume of people will reduce us each to a human smear.

We persist, displaying a determination that is arguably rooted less in religious ardour