Film Review - Killa

Return To Innocence

Film: Killa (Marathi)

Cast: Archit Deodhar, Parth Bhalerao, Amruta Subhash
Directed by: Avinash Arun
Duration: 1 hr 43 mins
Rating:  * * * * 

Winner of the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival last year, Killa is another feather in the cap of Marathi cinema. Directed by debutante Avinash Arun who is also a cinematographer, the film is a nostalgic trip down the memory – you will cheer, you will laugh and you will also feel a lump in your throat during the course of the film.  Everyone will relate to the characters, especially the children and their days of innocence.

Set in the Konkan area (the film was shot at Guhagar, in Ratnagiri district) Amruta Subhash plays a widowed mother to little boy Chinmay (Archit Deodhar), he doesn’t like the village one bit and is longing to go back to Pune, where they came from.  She has just been transferred so her job demands that they stay in this idyllic village.

Chinmay makes friends with his classmates who are all of different temperament; Bandya (Parth Bhalerao of Bhoothnath Returns fame) is a loose cannon when it comes to language. Eventually they all become good friends and in that process we see some moments that not only touch the heart but also make us laugh. 

The characterization is superb, each and every one of them stand out in their own right. Chinmay’s mother becomes a victim of corrupt practices evoking enough sympathy. But above everything else, Killa is about childhood memories and while we all have our unique experiences, the screenplay brings it alive in a way you can relate to it. It is also about a sense of belonging and being rooted to one place.  There isn’t a great deal in terms of a story, there are just episodes involving the children but that is more than enough to keep you engaged with nostalgia and help the film sail through.  Full marks to the director, the way in some of the scenes are crafted is admirable. 

Integrating the story with absolutely stunning visuals and a very apt background score (Naren Chandavarkar, Benedict Taylor), the performances top notch. Parth Bhalerao’s acting caught attention even before the film was released and sense of timing and delivery is simply superb. Befittingly, he won a Special Mention at this year’s National Awards.  Archit Deodhar who plays the main protagonist conveys just the right expressions and National Award winner Amruta Subhash makes her presence felt in film that is dominated by the children’s performances.  Her performance is so effortless yet spot on that it takes a second viewing to realize that. 

Among other things, Killa reminds us that the best things in life are indeed free. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 28th June 2015
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Film Review - Bhoothnath Returns

Polished Bhooth

Film: Bhoothnath Returns

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Parth Bhalerao, Boman Irani

Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari

Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins

Rating: *  *  * 

The chances of Bhoothnath returning looked slim when the character first made its appearance in 2008. It was an enjoyable family film even though it didn’t really set the box office on fire. In a similar vein, Bhoothnath Returns is a very heartfelt and a sincere effort that deserves a recommendation. 

We meet Bhoothnath (Amitabh Bachchan) up there where he is awaiting his turn to be reborn. To return as mosquito is easy but the waiting list to be reborn as a human (or even an actor’s pet) is way too long.  After striking a deal with the ‘authorities’ in ghost world that resembles a government office, he is sent back to earth.

He becomes friends with Aakhrot (Parth Bhalerao) a little street smart boy from the Dharavi slums who lives with his single mother played by National award winner Usha Jadhav. After helping the boy vacate some ‘haunted’ properties the focus shifts to politics as they take on the local leader Bhau (Boman Irani) and Bhoothnath even contests the local election. 

They get help from a legal advisor (Sanjay Mishra) and then have to run from pillar to post to complete the formalities. In a hilarious sequence, they even approach Anurag Kashyap to pen an election campaign song for them.

The second half is a bit preachy and heavy duty at times but there is no denying that it makes some absolutely valid points and given the reach of our cinema, who knows, it might even inspire some people. The Election Commission of India could have well partnered with this film to promote voter awareness. 

Even though there are some shortcomings, writer/director Nitesh Tiwari has done commendable job and the film finishes on a high. The acting also lends a lot of credibility. Boman Irani as the shrewd politician plays has part with conviction and Amitabh Bachchan is as good as ever- he adds so much more value to the lines while delivering those monologues. Parth Bhalerao as the kid is first rate looks like a natural born actor. On the whole, Bhoothnath Returns has some flabby parts but if you can ignore that, it is good for a family outing.

Published in The Navhind Times on 13th Apr 2014

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