I Am.the film which has been travelling for over a year to various festivals all around the world.I Am.the film which has been co produced by over 400 people over the world.I Am.the film which is the talk of the town for being a fiercely independent and different film.
Yes, different it is.but does it venture in2 unchartered territories.Naah!
I will like to dissect all the 4 stories one by one starting with:
I AM AFIA.
This story is about sperm donation.Nandita Das plays Afia who is hell bent to have a baby but her husband shocks her when he decides to divorce her for someone else.Thus begins her journey into a life without a husband.a life where she does not have the ability and strength to trust another man.a world where she wants to have a baby through a sperm donor.Although she is ridiculed by her friend Megha(juhi chawla).she stands firm and decides to go ahead with it.Purab kohli plays the sperm donor who is reluctant to meet Nandita at first but finally develops a sopft corner for her as the story ends.
Dis was the story.Now.wat I felt was firstly, this issue deserves attention allright but the story is so plain and ordinary that it fails to move you which should be the case with an emotional story like that.
Nandita das pitches in an amazing performance and Purab Kohli is also fantastic as the sperm donor.Anurag Basu is okay in a brief cameo as the doctor and the use of Bangla helps add authenticity to the story.
I AM MEGHA.
This story deals with the strife torn city of Srinagar and the plight of Kashmiri pandits.Juhi chawla plays Megha who had to run away from Srinagar several years back to save her life.Manisha koirala plays Rubina who is Megha’s friend and who decided to stay back in the valley.
The story is about Juhi returning to Srinagar after several years to sell off her house and coming face to face with their past and a few secrets about Rubina’s family.She is shocked to see the state in which Srinagar is today and realises this place will never be the same again.
Juhi chawla comes up with a sincere performance but it is Manisha Koirala who leaves an impact with an awsome cameo.Rushad rana as Manisha’s brother is okay.
I AM ABHIMANYU.
This story is my personal favorite of the lot.Simply becuase the theme of the story which is child abuse is definately path breaking and it is embellished with fine performances by all the actors.
Sanjay Suri plays Abhimanyu, a film director who has had a troubled childhood.He was abused by his dad.(Anurag Kashyap) whenever his mom used to go to her native place.But after some time, Abhimanyu starts taking advantage of his dad’s fetish for molesting him and tries to fulfil all his demands.In short.as he says in the film, he after a point also starts using his dad.
Sanjay Suri comes up with tremendous performance as Abhimanyu.infact his is the best performance among the whole cast.Anurag Kashyap fits the role of child abuser like a glove on hand.Radhika Apte as Abhimanyu’s friend is a delight to watch and I cant wait to watch her in Shor in the city.Lat but not d least, this story remains the best of the lot for its novelty and super performances.
I AM OMAR.
Homosexuality is still a taboo in our country.legal or illegal hardly matters.this is the germ for the plot of I am omar which tracks the life of Jai(Rahul Bose) over one night where he encounters Omar(Arjun mathur) and tries to have a quickie in the car but is caught in the act by a policeman(Abhimanyu Singh) who ends up extorting 75000 from him in return for his dignity.
Rahul Bose as usual is Mr dependable and comes up again witha measured performace.Arjun Mathur is also good as Omar and Abhimanyu Singh as the policeman is in his comfort zone as he plays a dominating character which is something he can play in his sleep.
Kudos to Rahul Bose and Arjun Mathur for indulging in a liplock.Indian cinema is definately growing up but the excessive use of expletives by Abhimanyu Singh turns you off after a while.Wish there were less of those cuss words.
Vivek Philip’s background score is good except in I am Megha where it sounds too hollywoodish.Amit Trivedi has composed some beautiful songs for the film with Issi baat pe being the best.Onir’s direction is apta nd the cinematography and editing are upto the mark.
All in all, yes.it is a landmark film for various resons and it defiantely manages to push the envelope but out of the 4 stories, only 2 of them stay with you once you leave the theatre-Abhimanyu and Omar.
Still.i salute onir for emabrking in a direction where few have travelled before.It definately is a start and hoefully more will follow and come up with their own version of Indi films.Do watch it but do not expect the moon from it and you might just enjoy the experience!