An unemployed Manoj alias Manu is told by his mother that they need some money for his sister's forthcoming marriage, and he sets out to find some. For this purpose, he visits his former Calcutta-based girlfriend, Neerj alias Neeru, whom he was to marry, but who preferred to marry someone wealthier, in Calcutta. He rings the doorbell, and the door is answered by Neerja herself, and he is invited inside. They talk and update each other on their lives. Neerja puts on Manoj's raincoat, so she could go out and buy something to cook for him. She warns him not to open the door nor let anyone in. After Neerja leaves a man knocks on the door, and requests entry into the house to use the toilet. Manoj opens the door and lets the male use the facilities. When this male finishes his business, he refuses to leave, and sits and talks with Manoj. It is during this conversation that Manoj finds out the stark truth behind Neerja, her husband, and their married life.
Raincoat Preview
Two estranged lovers meet after six years. As they spend a rainy evening together, they reminisce the moments that consolidated their love, and reflect upon the circumstances that separated them.
Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan come together on screen for the fourth time for Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh's first Hindi film 'Raincoat'. Rituparno has earlier made a Bengali film titled Titli which too was based on an evening encounter between estranged lovers.
Produced by Shree Venkatesh Films (producers of Chokher Bali), 'Raincoat' is also Devgan's first film with a Bengali director.
'Raincoat' begins with Manoj (Ajay Devgan) leaving his mother in countryside to travel to Kolkata in search of better prospects of business. He is hopeful that the city will help him emerge from his financial crisis. He also harbors a bleak hope of meeting his estranged beloved Niru (Ash), who is now married to someone else.
On a rainy day in Kolkata, Manoj borrows his friend's old raincoat as he sets out to meet Niru. What follows is a nostalgic and emotion-filled encounter between the two, set against a rainy afternoon.
The story moves back and forth in time from flashback to present evening as the two go about reminiscing their love and their youth spent together in the same village in the backwoods of Bihar. As the evening progresses, the two are drawn into a conversation that brings out the traces of hidden love for each other in their hearts and the Raincoat becomes a symbol of their 'old and worn out feelings' that still smolder in their hearts somewhere deep down.
Aishwarya Rai will be seen without make-up in this film. Her costumes for the movie were designed by Neeta Lulla. Ajay sports a middle class look given by designer Anna Singh.
The movie was shot in 25 days in Kolkata and is set mostly in an apartment. Its script was originally written in Bengali by Rituparno Ghosh and later translated into Hindi by theatre personality Usha Ganguly.
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