The director, Vimukthi Jayasundara, was quoted as being surprised by the negative feedback. The intention behind the scene was meant to portray raw, unapologetic human intimacy, focusing on the character's emotional state rather than mere sensationalism.
Despite its global critical acclaim, Chatrak became a massive talking point in India for a singular, explicit sequence. An unsimulated oral sex scene involving Paoli Dam and her co-star Anubrata Basu was leaked online ahead of the film's theatrical release.
The film's core controversy stems from an explicit and graphic scene depicting between Paoli Dam's character and Anubrata Basu's character. Multiple sources confirm that the scene involved full frontal nudity for both actors and was performed without the use of body doubles . The authenticity and explicitness of the scene were unprecedented in Indian mainstream or arthouse cinema at the time. Paoli Dam Naked Scene In Chatrak Bengali Moviel
Paoli Dam herself, who once wanted to be a classical dancer or a pilot, managed to soar to the heights of international film festivals on her own terms, leaving behind a cinematic moment that forces audiences to choose between condemnation and contemplation. As she once put it, her actions were meant to "initiate a dialogue", and Chatrak undoubtedly did.
. Dam has consistently maintained that the scene was necessary to the narrative and that she performed it without inhibitions as part of her job as an actor. Reception: The director, Vimukthi Jayasundara, was quoted as being
For Paoli Dam, it was a baptism by fire. She emerged not as a victim of the male gaze, but as the master of her own narrative. Today, when we look at the bold, unapologetic content coming out of Bengal—whether on OTT or in theaters—we see the shadow of Chatrak . We see the mushroom growing out of the concrete.
The most infamous scene in Chatrak involves Paoli Dam and actor Anubrata Basu in a sexually explicit sequence featuring full frontal nudity and a depiction of unsimulated cunnilingus. According to reports, the unsimulated nature of the scene was a deliberate choice by the director, as neither Bollywood nor Tollywood had any prior experience in staging such intimate moments convincingly. An unsimulated oral sex scene involving Paoli Dam
Paoli Dam has consistently defended her choice, viewing the role as a test of her dedication as a performer.
The explicit scene, which was leaked online, caused an immediate uproar in India, especially in Kolkata, where the film was shot. Paoli Dam faced severe criticism from multiple quarters for her participation in the scene, which contained full-frontal nudity. The backlash was so intense that a version of the film, edited to remove the sexually explicit scene, was specially arranged for screening at the Kolkata Film Festival in 2011.