I was not in a condition to actually go and see the movie yesterday, fever and all. But we went to see and that turned out to be a good decision. It was one of the best satires I have ever seen. Before entering the cinema hall, I was a little skeptical, as I knew a little about the plot, and I was seriously afraid that the movie may turn out to be a mockery of a serious issue; gladly it was not the case.
The movie is very much hyped that’s for sure, and I’m not going to comment about it. The director and writer of the movie is a journalist herself, so I expected some good conjuncture of art on screen. My roommate went on with his friends for the same movie, earlier yesterday, and he said he liked the movie. So with elated expectations, we entered the cinema hall.
The plot revolves around a farmer, his family, entire village per say. The farmer is forced to commit suicide due to money crunch. Since he has not paid up installments, of the loan, his farm is going to be auctioned, and he hears he can save the land only by committing suicide so the government will pay compensation to his family, and in turn he can save his land. Considering the current condition in India, the subject is very much important to be taken up. And the director does complete justice to it.
When a movie is rated ‘A’, then there is an option to edit it to suit for the general crowd, when directors and producers decide otherwise, that just means, the purpose, or the message they want to convey to the masses is more important, than just getting maximum profit through the U/A tag. The movie is indeed rated ‘A’. Some dialogues justify the ratings as well, but at the same time, such dialogues convey the exact expression.
I can think of Boman Irani’s well done Abba, which went on the similar social issues, but was not a exact satire. It had Boman Irani, who held the mantle; here we have Raghuveer Yadav, and Omkar Das Manikpuri. The perfect casting just adds more and more flavor to the story, even Shalini Vatsa as Dhaniya and Farookh Zafar as Amma keep the movie to more of a satire level, introducing a little comic aspect, and hold the movie from going completely into serious mode.
Whatever you may be thinking while going in the theatre, the movie makes significant impact on you. It has moments, when you laugh till your insides hurt, and then there are also times when the edges of your eyes would water involuntarily. When the drop flows on your cheek, you realise it. The movie is not a melodrama; it’s not even a ridiculous comedy. It’s a perfect brewed comic sarcasm.
I have some bigger concerns; we can not just appreciate such art, and in a couple of days forget it all. The last time when I went on to outskirts of Pune, I saw barren lands; I could not handle the temperature in a usual afternoon. Sitting in a cosy armchair, and appreciating the movie, is easy, the question is, and will these attempts change anything?
P.S: Indian Ocean are perfect choice for the music.:)