The film contains a widely discussed intimate scene between Paoli Dam’s character (a sex worker named Lakkhi) and her client (played by Samadarshi Dutta), set amidst a forest of mushrooms inside a concrete building. The scene is not merely erotic but thematically dense:
To view Chatrak purely through the lens of controversy misses its foundational context. The film was conceived as an art-house, abstract drama exploring the stark, chaotic effects of rapid urbanization and human alienation. Production Details Vimukthi Jayasundara International Title: Mushrooms
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Cultural critics pointed out a stark patriarchal hypocrisy. In the scene, Dam's character is positioned as the active pleasure-seeker rather than a passive participant, a subversion of traditional cinematic roles that deeply unsettled a conservative, phallo-centric society. PAOLI DAM--S HOT SCENE IN CHATRAK-Mushroom hit
), directed by Vimukthi Jayasundara. The film became highly controversial in India due to explicit, unsimulated sexual scenes involving Dam and co-star Anubrata Basu. Movie Story Summary
Chatrak had a legitimate and prestigious launch. It was officially selected for the Directors' Fortnight, a non-competitive section of the —a platform reserved for innovative and daring cinema. However, even before the film reached its intended audience, a pirated "raw shot" of the offending scene was leaked on YouTube in 2011, quickly becoming a viral sensation. In Kolkata, "Do you have it with you?" became a common phrase referring to the clip, overshadowing any serious discussion of the film's artistic merit.
The scene triggered significant backlash, particularly in Kolkata: The film contains a widely discussed intimate scene
In the annals of Indian parallel cinema, very few films have managed to straddle the line between arthouse obscurity and mainstream notoriety quite like the 2011 Bengali film Chatrak (meaning “Mushroom”). Directed by the internationally acclaimed filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara, the film remains a talking point for two distinct reasons: its surreal, allegorical storytelling centered around an uncontrollable mushroom growth in a Kolkata slum, and its unapologetically bold, intimate sequences featuring lead actress Paoli Dam.
With the success of Chaatrak, Paoli Dam's future in the Bengali film industry looks bright. Here are a few projects and prospects that could shape her career:
The phrase “hot scene” is a tabloid framing. The film’s director intended the scene to feel uncomfortable, organic, and strange — like the mushrooms that grow unexpectedly in cracks. Reducing it to “hot” misses the point of the film entirely. Can’t copy the link right now
Amidst the media trial and public shaming, Paoli Dam remained remarkably composed and articulate. She defended her choice as an artist, not a provocateur. She explained that she agreed to do the scene only after being convinced by the director that it was essential for the story. Admitting it was difficult, she revealed a lack of precedent: "Well, the fact that nobody from Tollywood or Bollywood has ever done something like this and I had no reference point. I didn’t know how to prepare for the scene". To prepare, she and Jayasundara watched explicit sex scenes from American and British films to understand the craft.
: A prominent Indian actress known for her work in Bengali and Hindi cinema, particularly for bold, erotic roles (e.g., Hate Story ). Her name is often associated with "hot scenes" in mainstream and art-house films.