Paoli Dam, often praised for her fearlessness, has always maintained that the scene was integral to the film's artistic vision and the narrative of the story. She has consistently defended her role in Chatrak , emphasizing that she has never shied away from challenging, complex characters that demand high emotional and physical commitment. Lasting Impact on Bengali Cinema

When released Chatrak (Mushroom) in 2011, mainstream Bengali cinema wasn’t ready for it. Sandwiched between family dramas and detective thrillers, the film was an anarchic, psychedelic storm. But one element pierced the cultural clutter to achieve a strange, enduring afterlife: the raw, unfiltered presence of actress Paoli Dam .

Let’s set the record straight. The most discussed sequence isn’t gratuitous. Set against a half-constructed, ghostly housing complex on the fringes of Kolkata, Paoli’s character engages in a visceral, almost feral act of intimacy. The scene is shot in chiaroscuro—heavy shadows, rain-soaked concrete, and the titular chatrak (mushroom) growing out of decay.