[1][2] [3] Much before the Tsunami became a household name all over the world, the coastal belts of Orissa were hit by what has come to be known as the "Super Cyclone" that killed more than 10,000 people and rendered still more homeless.
[1] Kathantara, a feature film in Oriya language, is an attempt to throw light on the trials and tribulations of 1999 Orissa cyclone survivors with particular emphasis on Kalpana (Anu Chowdhury), a young widow.
Dipankar, a TV Journalist from Bangladesh, is engaged in documenting the cyclone anniversary and the status of the post-cyclone survivors.
With the help of an NGO group he covers the programme, and hears a great deal about Kalpana — the much publicised cyclone widow.
Like others in that locality her father a forced migrant from East Bengal during the partition of India, struggled all his life to establish his identity, even though he was a citizen of his adopted homeland.
Kalpana tired with her own struggle and very much bitter at the meaningless publicity made out of her, firmly refuses Dipankar for an interview.
The frustration of the never ending follow-up for compensation money, the anguish of being treated as women of loose virtue by village youths, and the illicit advances by Rupa’s husband makes Kalpana insecured.
Rupa, also believes how difficult it is for a single woman, especially a young and good looking widow to cope up with her present situation.
There is a large scale resentment, unrest and protest-rally by the affected people to assert their rights and belongingness to the adopted homeland.
Kalpana now determined to stay back, takes a surprise bold step to reclaim her rights to live in the land of her birth.
This is a major letdown in her characterization and is quite a regressive moment; as a result it fails to alleviate her in the eyes of the viewers at the end.