A Honest one ! That’s what comes to my mind as I walk out of theatre after watching “I AM”. Well I have grown up listening to the film-makers each time a new film released that “Its Different”. Thankfully ‘Onir’ never claimed so as far as I followed his interview. Onir as a filmmaker has set himself apart with his very first film “My Brother Nikhil”. And rather than trying to be different each time he chose to stand right in the middle and show a mirror to the world through his films.
“I AM” is another sincere attempt from his end. Where in he chose not to stand ‘out of the box’ rather stand in the box and make an attempt to loosen the blindfold that each one of us wore for years and made us see things right within the box.
‘I AM’ is the film about people by the people cause it has the support of 400 plus individuals who supported “Anticlock films” in their venture of speaking avout important issues in peoples life without being preachy .
It’s a beautiful compilation of four short films “Afia”, “Abhimanyu” “Megha” and “Omar”. Some of them are inspired by real life incidences.
“Afia” played by ‘Nandita Das’ is a story of a woman who chose to break the societal norms and decides to have her own baby without depending on her partner.
“Megha” played by Juhi Chawla is a displaced Kashmiri Hindu, who returns to Srinagar after years, only to sell her old home and make peace with her past only to realize that people on the other end are equally fighting with their past.
“Abhimanyu” played by Sanjay Suri is a selfish filmmaker struggling with the demons of his childhood (Sexual Abuse) trying hard to set himself free. A beautiful depiction of how humans are residual of their childhood.
“Omar” is story of a gay man Rahul Bose who has been emotionally and physically abused in the name of law.
The film is named “I AM” cause each of the four protagonists is on their way to find their identity and make peace with their past.
Onir’s choice of actors has always been apt and it’s appreciable on the part of Nandita Das, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri and Rahul Bose to come forward for the cause. Especially Anurag Kashyap who accepted to play a role of “Child abuser” in the film. Every performance is effortless including actors like Manisha, Purab Kohli and few others.
Music of the film by Rajiv Bhalla, Vivek Philip and Amit trivedi compliments the meaningful lyrics and does the magic of soothing and disturbing simultaneously as per the need of each story.
Experimentation has been done with cinematography. Arvind Kannabira work, clearly demarcating different stories by giving them an individualistic identity.
Overall this film is not about technicalities but more about the emotion and intent with which each cast and crew has contributed to this vision of Anticlock Films and they deserve a round of applause for it.
I recommend that one should watch “I AM” to develop a sense of “Empathy” not “Sympathy” towards their own self and as well as their fellow humans who are busy making an attempt to find their identity and travel an untrodden path.”
Onir, Anticlock Films and those 400 + contributors deserves a standing ovation for raising the bar and making an attempt TO SPEAK AND BE HEARD.