Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Srijit Mukherji’s Winkle Twinkle Revives a Timely Political Drama
Winkle Twinkle is a film based on a play written by Bratya Basu.
It is about a man named Sabyasachi who disappears in 1976.
He comes back 26 years later and finds that everything has changed.
His family has grown older, and his son has very different political beliefs.
Ritwick Chakraborty plays Sabyasachi, while Parambrata Chattopadhyay plays his son.
Director Srijit Mukherji wanted to make the story into a political film because its ideas remained important to him.
The actors say the film examines people and their beliefs rather than giving one side an easy victory.
The unusual time gap also makes the film different from an ordinary family drama.
Srijit Mukherji’s film adapts Bratya Basu’s 2002 play Winkle Twinkle.
The story follows Sabyasachi Sen, who disappears in 1976 and returns 26 years later.
Sabyasachi finds his family changed and his son committed to an opposing political ideology.
Ritwick Chakraborty plays Sabyasachi opposite Parambrata Chattopadhyay as his son Indra.
The trailer was unveiled at Jadavpur University, with the film set to bring the play into a 2026 political context.
- Who
- Director Srijit Mukherji, actor Ritwick Chakraborty, writer Bratya Basu, and the cast of Winkle Twinkle, including Parambrata Chattopadhyay.
- What
- A film adaptation of the 2002 play Winkle Twinkle about a father who returns after 26 years and confronts his changed family and his son’s opposing political ideology.
- When
- The trailer was unveiled in 2026; the original play was staged in 2002 and the story begins with Sabyasachi’s disappearance in 1976.
- Where
- The trailer was unveiled at Jadavpur University; the interview took place at Rajashree Productions’ office in Jodhpur Park.
- Why
- Srijit Mukherji said the play stayed with him and was politically close to him, while its generational conflict continues to resonate.
Sabyasachi’s Established Worldview
Indra’s Changed Ideology
Political beliefs
Sabyasachi’s Established Worldview
Sabyasachi returns after 26 years still rooted in the political world and beliefs he left behind.
Indra’s Changed Ideology
Indra has grown up during Sabyasachi’s absence and now holds an opposing political ideology.
Generational conflict
Sabyasachi’s Established Worldview
Sabyasachi expects his emotional and political world to retain meaning after his return.
Indra’s Changed Ideology
Indra represents a newer generation shaped by the years his father missed.
How the film treats ideology
Sabyasachi’s Established Worldview
Srijit Mukherji intends to retain Sabyasachi’s confrontation with his son while examining his beliefs critically.
Indra’s Changed Ideology
The film adds layers to Indra so that the confrontation is more balanced and does not present one ideology as automatically correct.
- Source material
- Bratya Basu’s 2002 play Winkle Twinkle
- Director
- Srijit Mukherji
- Lead actor
- Ritwick Chakraborty as Sabyasachi Sen
- Son’s role
- Parambrata Chattopadhyay plays Indra
- Central premise
- Sabyasachi disappears in 1976 and returns 26 years later
- Core conflict
- A father and son divided by time and political ideology
- Trailer venue
- Jadavpur University
- Production context
- The film transfers the stage story into cinema for a 2026 audience