I am not a big film buff and when I do watch some, I enjoy English films normally. It is also too expensive to watch Hindi films in theaters because of the nonsense you are forced to watch usually.
This film was on my wife's radar and she was very angry when it did not release in Hyderabad. Maybe the makers did not think there is an audience for it - I don't know. I also read some critics reviews of the film which were a mix of being good and some bad, so I was not particularly upset at not being able to watch it, till my wife bought the DVD!
Without re-telling the entire story, because it is already online, I will only say one thing. That I am very surprised at this film.
The film is simple, but the storytelling could be from any number of foreign films from around the world. The dialogues are so spoken, they sound like they are written by you and me and part of a conversation that we would have in our homes. This is what makes this film and it's writing so unique. You do not see this in Hindi films, not even in what people today refer to as the new Indian cinema. The settings are attractive and though you can see Fabindia furniture in many frames, it does not distract from the story because the characters seem to belong there. That is the other thing that struck me, that the characters looked like they were comfortable, but not necessarily affluent. These are people who will be found in almost every metropolitan city of India, but never in Hindi films from our country!
Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval are brilliant. Understated and quiet, their performances are like a masterclass in acting. Swara Bhaskar! She is very good and truly talented, but I felt maybe she could try and emote a little bit more. It might be a matter of the script or it might be her ability, but I felt that although she was very good in her role, she could have brought a little more to her character.
Amala is an interesting choice of actor for a film like this and she is still very attractive to look at but her acting starts to pale, when you compare her to Farooq and Deepti, who are almost the same era of actors. The boy who is Swara's love interest started to irritate me after a while, till he changes his character in a swift masterstroke from the film makers at a crucial juncture of this story.
But overall, the performances of all the actors is beyond reproach.
Spoiler alert. One of the most funny scenes in the film is when a character comes to Deepti and Swara's house, mistaking Deepti to be married to Farooq. It is played out with such a deft hand, that it seems incredible that a scene like this finds itself in Hindi cinema. Nothing is said, and yet everything is obvious to the viewer. It is very funny and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Another scene that sticks out is when Deepti finally tells her daughter about her relationship. They both react to what is being said, even though there is no dialogue being spoken. It really is very well crafted as a scene and imaginatively shot as well. I did not like the first song of the film and it almost confirmed my fears about this being another silly Hindi film, but I'm glad I waited to make a judgement. It is only because of that I will rate this film a 9 otherwise it would be an easy 10/10.
I have already bought two more of the DVD's to send to my daughter and to a friend who is in a similar situation. And I also know that I will be watching this film again. There aren't many that I have watched again, so that should be a compliment which only my close friends will know I am paying to the film and it's makers.
I looked for the film makers and from what I can see, this is their first feature film. Interestingly, it also seems like the makers are a young couple who have either self funded it wholly or to a large extent of it at least. I would be very curious to see what their next film is and this time, I will spend the money to see it in a cinema hall.
Not because I know them, but because I think I would have enjoyed seeing Listen...Amaya in a theater too.
My wife of course is having the last laugh, even though she cried at the end of this film!
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