Several filmmakers like to call themselves ‘hatke’ and exponents of path-breaking cinema. But nobody can be as hatke as Amole Gupte. He casts kids in significant roles and shoots in the most kid-friendly environment possible (shooting for just four hours a day and that too during weekends or holidays), even if it means that the shoot moves at a snail’s pace. He used this method in the much-loved Stanley Ka Dabba and now is back with Hawaa Hawaai, another inspirational as well as entertaining film. Though it’s not as brilliant as Stanley Ka Dabba, it certainly deserves a watch!
The story of the movie: Arjun Harishchandra Waghmare(Partho Gupte) is leading a simple and happy life in Vidarbha with his family. However, tragedy strikes and his family is compelled to move to Mumbai. Arjun has no option but to quit schooling and look for a source of employment. He starts working at a roadside tea stall at Bandra-Kurla Complex.
It’s while working at the stall that he observes young children learn skating under the guidance of Lucky(Saqib Saleem). Arjun is fascinated by the sport but realizes that he won’t be able to learn skating as a pair of skates cost a bomb. However, his friends – Gochi(Ashfaque Khan), Murugan(Tirupathi Krishnapelli), Bhura(Salman Chote Khan) and Abdul(Maaman Memon) – come up with a unique idea to help fulfill Arjun’s dream.
Hawaa Hawaai’s first half is very entertaining as well as touching. With Amole Gupte at the helm of affairs, one is expected of quality entertainment. And sure enough, the movie engages viewers from start to finish. Moreover, the plot moves gradually and no attempt is made to rush things up. The manner in which Arjun and his friends build the skates from junk is heart-warming and a scene to watch out for.
The intermission point is hard-to-digest but nevertheless, makes an impact. The second half has its moments as well especially the sequence from the district championship to the hospital scene. At the same time however, the entire track of Saqib and his brother Aniket(Anuj Sachdeva) begins to crumble. Moreover, one also wonders the significance of Pragya’s(Pragya Yadav) character since it doesn’t have anything to do, although it enters the narrative as if it’s a very major character in the film.
Thankfully, the climax though predictable, has its moments. In fact, it’s quite dramatic as two tracks intersect which makes for a great watch. The final sequence in the school is quite nice but it does raise the ‘how-did-they-manage-to-do-so’ question in one’s mind.
Hawaa Hawaai belongs to the kids. Partho Gupte shows a lot of maturity as compared to Stanley Ka Dabba. He is first-rate and really amazes in some of the scenes, since this isn’t an easy role by any standards. Often, child actors don’t become successful actors later on. But I hope that Partho is an exception. After all, we’ll need such brilliant actors in future as well!
As for his friends, Ashfaque Khan is hilarious and gives a very ‘bindass’ performance. Salman Chote Khan looks every inch like the kid who knocks on the car’s windows for selling his wares on a junction. Tirupathi Krishnapelli and Maaman Memon too put their best foot forward.
Saqib Saleem is brilliant and proves his worth as an actor. Though he’s not the ‘main hero’ out here, he leaves a huge impact. The moments that he shares with his protégé are not as touching as we saw with Partho-Divya Dutta(Stanley Ka Dabba) or Darsheel Safary-Aamir Khan (Taare Zameen Par) but it’s realistic and do touch one’s heart.
Anuj Sachdeva looks dashing and gives a fine, no-nonsense performance. Neha Joshi(Arjun’s mother) is a complete natural. Razzak Khan (Usman Chacha) is very adorable. Sanjay Dadich (Bhatt, tea-stall owner) delivers a great performance. Makrand Deshpande(Arjun’s father) is hardly there but has a very important part in the narrative and does a terrific job.
Pragya Yadav looks cute and performs very well but doesn’t get much scope. Other actors that leave a mark are Divya Jagdale(doctor), Mithilesh Chaturvedi (profile fitness owner) and the actress playing Arjun’s grandmother.
Hitesh Sonik’s music is nicely woven in the script. His background score also gels well with the narrative. Amol Gole’s cinematography is top-notch.
However, the climax cinematography(Vikas Siwaraman) could have been better in terms of thrill. Deepa Bhatia’s editing as always is bravura. Finally, Amole Gupte once again wins hearts with his touching plot and direction. It’s amazing how he extracts such amazing performances from the kids. Also, it isn’t easy to make a sports film and that too on skating(it’s reportedly the first film in the world on the sport) but Amole comes out with flying colours. However, the second half has some loose ends.
Also, the very final scene could have been better explained. Moreover, question also arises that is it justified to show 12/13 year old boy working as a tea-stall owner in a business district in the city because one would never find something of this sort in a city like Mumbai. But nevertheless, a fine job by Amole that surely deserves kudos!
Some of the best scenes of the film:
1.Arjun’s first day at tea stall.
2.Arjun observes the skating classes for the first time.
3.Arjun and his friends at Profile Fitness.
4.Arjun meets Pragya at skating classes and at his house.
5.Arjun’s father build the skates.
6.The intermission point.
7.The hospital scene.
8.The last 20 minutes.
On the whole, Hawaa Hawaai is an entertaining as well as touching sports drama that is bound to touch your heart and make you smile. The kids deliver amazing performances and Saqib Saleem too puts his best foot forward. It has some loose ends in the second half and overall the film is not as extraordinary as Amole Gupte’s last flick Stanley Ka Dabba. Yet, it has its moments and certainly deserves a watch!