Despite—or perhaps because of—the controversy, remains a landmark in Bengali independent cinema. It cemented Paoli Dam as a fearless actor and is often cited as a breaking point for on-screen censorship and sexual representation in Indian film.

The intense censorship and moral outrage created significant hurdles for the film’s distribution. It was never given a commercial release in India. The uncut, full-length version of Chatrak remains "partially lost" due to these distribution struggles, making it a rarity sought after by collectors of Indian parallel cinema.