It’s a tale of that runs on twin trails. Of two men who harbour different dreams and diverse disposition. One of Apu who seeks his fortunes in Houston rather than Hoogly in Kolkata, for, to him, the City of Joy is simply in decay. The other Andy, the guitarist, who swears by Indian classical music, and born in the US of A, Kolkata is the Mecca for all things art and culture.

Full of fun, frolic, beer binges, and warm hearted humour, The Bong Connection, is however, a poignant drama, where in Apu finds that the Land of Liberty is not all that wonderful and glitzy that he had dreamt of but every day is a ruthless struggle which he had not had to encounter back up being a much pampered boy.

Likewise, for Andy, too, it a culture shock, and not a Kolkata that he can find connection with and is a onerous job to come to terms with. Told in a comic vein, The Bong Connection, however, raises some real issues. Both Apu and Andy, While Kolkata sees Andy release his inner self. Houston makes Apu a tougher, more adventurous Bengali.

Andy and Apu return to their lands to pursue and better their dream. Both Andy and Apu, do ultimately find what realise their life’s ambitions in their own way as the cities grow on them. Anjan Dutt, in his English/Bengal crossover film, does a competent job.