Adapting a worldwide renowned film is a risk. Not only does the filmmaker have to retain the charm of the original, he also has to make sure that the adapted version suits the capabilities of the audience of his country. Priyadarshan’s Bumm Bumm Bole, adapted from Majid Majidi’s classic Children Of Heaven tries its level best to raise to the level of the original and succeeds. Also it is beautifully Indianised to make sure the desi audiences likes it! This weekend, this seems to be the ideal film!
The story of the movie: Pinu (Darsheel Safary) lives with his father Khogiram (Atul Kulkarni), mother (Rituparna Sengupta) and sister Rimzim (Ziyah Vastani) somewhere in North-East India in a region infested with ULFA terrorism. The family leads a hand to mouth existence. Khogiram has just lost a job and is trying his best to get a new one. One day, when Pinu is sent to cobbler to mend Rimzim’s shoes, he misplaces it. Those were the only pair of Rimzim’s shoes. Pinu tells Rimzim about the loss but requests not to tell about it to their parents as they might scold him and also they won’t be able to afford a new pair for her. Pinu then comes with the idea-he tells Rimzim to wear his shoes during her school time in the morning. As soon as her classes are over, she should return back and meet Pinu at a lonely patch of the route. Pinu will then wear the shoes and go for his afternoon classes in the school! In this way, both can share the same pair until the situation at home improves. However, this arrangement proves costly for Pinu as everyday he ends up reaching late for his classes. On the other hand, Khogiram is arrested for a murder and hence, people feared employing him. To find out what happens next, watch the film!
One gets instantly absorbed into the film. The locales are breathtaking and the family’s conversations and problems look quite believable. And the kids and their cuteness will surely put a smile on your face. There’s not much movement in the first half. Even in the second hour, one might get feeling that the film is being stretched unnecessarily. However, the scenes are so wonderfully shot, the kids are so adorable and the direction is so brilliant that you won’t complain when the plot goes a little haywire. And that’s the strength of the film.
The film takes a high the moment Pinu loses the shoes in the market. The way Pinu explains his idea of sharing shoes to Rimzim was impressive. Rimzim trying a wannabe detective by following one of her schoolmate was too good! There’s a terror angle in the film as well. But frankly, it doesn’t look out of place in this cute film. In fact, it forms a part of story more so in the 2nd hour. In fact, the encounter sequence turns out to be one of the most interesting ones of the film.
The climax (the race) doesn’t set your heart racing but still works. Also, Darsheel’s disappointment when he comes first while he desired to come third was well shot. You feel joyous for him for his achievement but at the same time you pity as he couldn’t get what he wished! However, the last scene sums it up well and the film ends on a justified note.
The film belongs to Darsheel and Ziyah. Darsheel’s performance here won’t be compared with Taare Zameen Par as both films are as different as chalk and cheese. But there’s no doubt he’s extremely talented and comes up with another gem of a performance! Watch out for him when he is unable to find the shoes at the grocery store. Or in the sequence when the teacher reprimands him for coming late. And in the scene where he robs shoes from the temple. His next film Zokkomon wherein he plays a superhero should also rock hopefully! Great going Darsheel!
Ziyah Vastani looks so so so so cuteeeee and comes up with an equally sweet performance! Her eyes, smile, expression and her dialogue delivery is wonderful and she instantly steals hearts with her adorable act! Atul Kulkarni as usual comes up with a brilliant performance. He is exceptional in some scenes especially when he curses God. Rituparna Sengupta doesn’t have much to do but does a good job. The rest of the actors (Atul Kulkarni’s sister and her hubby, the cop, the grandmother, Darhseel’s class teacher) contribute well to the film.
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