Konkona delivers a tour-de-force performance as the sharp-tongued, possessive, yet ultimately endearing ghost. Her acting style, comedic timing, and emotional depth make Pishima one of the most memorable characters in Bengali cinema.
Goynar Baksho (The Jewellery Box) is a 2013 Indian Bengali-language supernatural comedy film directed by . Based on a novel by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay , it follows three generations of women and their evolving status in society, linked by a single box of jewels. 🎬 Essential Details Release Date: April 12, 2013. Director: Aparna Sen. Genre: Supernatural Comedy, Period Drama. Runtime: 141 minutes. Rating: 7.2/10 on IMDb . 🎭 Principal Cast Moushumi Chatterjee: Rashmoni (the Ghostly Pishima). Konkona Sen Sharma: Somlata.
Bound by rigid patriarchal rules, her rebellion only comes after death.
At its heart, Goynar Baksho is a feminist text. The jewelry box itself is the central metaphor.
Decades later, during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Somalini’s modern, independent daughter Chaowali inherits the box. The jewelry is ultimately used to fund freedom fighters, changing its purpose from private greed to public liberation. Star-Studded Cast and Performances Bengali Movie Goynar Baksho 2013 12
Audiences appreciated the delightful mix of humor, the strong acting, and the entertaining narrative, rating it highly for its engaging first half.
The story begins with , a new bride entering a declining zamindar (landlord) family. The family’s matriarch, Rashmoni (Pishima), is a widowed aunt who is obsessed with her secret jewellery box containing 500 bhari of gold.
Composed by Debojyoti Mishra, the soundtrack perfectly captures the changing eras, blending traditional Bengali folk elements with contemporary 1970s sounds to match the film's historical progression. Legacy and Cultural Impact
Historically, Bengali widows were stripped of all luxuries, independence, and rights. For Rashmoni, the gold box was not just wealth; it was her identity, security, and revenge against a system that locked her away. 2. Evolution of Feminism Based on a novel by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay ,
Somlata says a powerful line (around the 12th scene): "Ei baksho ta amar bou er adhikar. Stree dhone." ("This box is my wife's right. Women's wealth.") In Bengali law ( Streedhan ), a woman’s jewelry is her absolute property. The film shows how men constantly try to reinterpret that law.
Goynar Baksho (2013) is not a period piece; it is a mirror. In 2025, Indian families still fight over ancestral jewelry. Daughters-in-law are still called "gold-diggers." Old women are still isolated in their rooms.
Through the lazy men of the household, Aparna Sen parodies the decay of the old feudal system. While the men sit idle, romanticizing their past glory, it is the women who adapt, work, and sustain the household. Technical Merits
Patriarchy, female desire, and shifting societal structures Plot and Structure Genre: Supernatural Comedy, Period Drama
The music, composed by Debojyoti Mishra, is a standout element. It utilizes traditional Bengali folk motifs, classical strains, and whimsical comedic tracks that perfectly complement the supernatural occurrences on screen. The Legacy of Goynar Baksho
A box of jewelry is rarely just a collection of precious stones; it is a repository of secrets, unfulfilled desires, and the history of the women who held it. In his 2013 cinematic triumph Goynar Baksho (The Jewellery Box), legendary Bengali director Aparna Sen uses a family heirloom to unpack the changing status of women in Bengali society across three generations.
Played with terrifying brilliance by Moushumi Chatterjee, Rashmoni is a child bride turned bitter, foul-mouthed ghost. Married off at age 11 and widowed shortly after, her 500-gram box of gold wedding jewelry is her only source of security, identity, and pride.