This must have happened to many: suppressed as a protégé or jealous as a mentor. Tanuja Chandra’s Sur explores jealousy and betrayal in a mentor-protégé relation with elan.
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A theme of jealousy, betrayal and repentence
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A gifted and dedicated singer-music teacher who shuns record sales, concerts, parties Vikramaditya(Lucky Ali) is eager to pass on his music legacy to the right student. He finally finds the right student with potential in Tina(Gauri Karnik), a young girl from humble backgrounds.
Coupling indulgence with pomposity, Vikramaditya begins polishing Tina’s musical capabilities leading to an unspoken love from both sides.
Bitterly jealous, he watches Tina improve, at times even better him, till he does the ultimate betrayal of robbing her best tunes and passing them off as his own. To suppress his guilt he expels a shattered Tina from his music school, on flimsy pretexts.
He dissolves in guilt and shame till he realizes his folly and is out to search for her again, this time with the intention of giving her her due.
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Music:the movie’s charm
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Adding charm to this touching theme are the songs written by Nida Fazli set to melodious music by M.M Kreem. Lucky Ali’s honey dew voice suits the mood of the movie. His Aa bhi jaa, and Mahalaxmi’s Kabhi Shaam Dhale are the best on the ears.
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Performances better the music
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The beautiful Simone Singh gives a controlled performance as Vikramaditya’s fellow music teacher. Silently observing Vikramaditya crumble in deceit and jealousy, watch her tick him off, ‘when the claps fade, when these sweet smelling bouquets wither, then ask yourself the question that you are afraid to confront today.’
Achint Kaur excels as the high-strung record company manager, hanging on to her cigarettes for dear life. Divya Dutta as Tina’s bar owner sister Rita too is refreshingly cast.
Gauri Karnik as Tina was impressive too, but somehow she reminded me of ‘Sweety’ from the Zee TV sitcom ‘Hum Paanch’ in her initial appearances. As the movie progresses, she grows on you and delivers superlatively in each scene.
Director Tanuja Chandra for the first time has chosen a soft subject (shades of Abhimaan) and executes this story rather well. Despite low production values the art direction imparts this movie a pretty look.
Deft direction aside, Sur truly belongs to Lucky Ali. As Vikramaditya a man consumed with guilt, pomposity, an inferiority complex and a frustration eating him away, Lucky Ali unassumingly commands attention and makes a highly impressive acting debut. Used to call him Unlucky Ali in jest, but don’t feel like now.
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It’s a beautiful movie. A must for music lovers.
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