Film Review - Home Sweet Home (Konkani)

It’s Better In Goa 

Film: Home Sweet Home (Konkani)

Cast: John D’Silva, Rajdeep Naik

Directed by: Swapnil Shetkar

Duration: 2 hrs 17 mins

Rating: * * *

There are very few Konkani films made every year and at times, they lack consistency in terms of story-telling and craft. But am very happy to report that Swapnil Shetkar’s latest venture Home Sweet Home is film that will strike a chord, especially with the Goan audiences. Tackling the subject of migration, land sale and Goan-ness, the young director makes some pertinent points without being too preachy most of the times.

The writing (by Shetkar himself) is admirable with some witty and peppy dialogues but the film flounders in the last final act. But barring that this effort is quite heartening and if this is a sign of things to come, we can expect Konkani film makers to raise the bar even higher. 

John (John D’Silva) plays an NRI who doesn’t have much of a family and returns to Goa after a decade and a half. He strikes a friendly note with a taxi driver Raj (Rajdeep Naik) but John gets the shock of his life when he reaches his home. Well, there is no house there to begin with instead he finds that an apartment has replaced his ancestral abode.            

While he was away, he had left it in the safe hands of his friend (Luis Bachchan) but turns out that a builder ‘bought’ the property and built a residential complex. There on begins John’s struggle to get back what rightly belongs to him and giving him company is the taxi driver.

The camaraderie between the two men is what pulls the film through. While there is an occasional dose of humor, the screenplay also makes points about this whole issue of Goans leaving for greener pastures abroad and non-Goans coming and settling in Goa. “If there are so few opportunities in Goa how come outsiders are coming settling here?” a character rightly asks.

For most parts, this Goan, non-Goan issue is tackled sensible, there is the odd scene where it goes overboard though. The finale acts as a dampner and instead of wrapping it up nicely it takes a rather unexpected route.

But that is a blemish we’ll have live with otherwise Shetkar and co have done a mighty impressive job.

Barring those pointless close-ups and there are quite a few of them, technically you can see there is an effort to get it right. That long take scene for example, when the two men are having a conversation Raj’s house over a drink, it’s an example of a good writing and it is equally well shot. The background music also contributes significantly when it doesn’t become too dramatic that is.

The lead actors have done a remarkable job. John D’Silva is a big name on stage and proves again that he has it in him in front of the camera as well. Very few actors are gifted with such terrific timing and John D’Silva is surely one of them. Rajdeep Naik, another stage artist also holds his end equally well and together they make a good team. 

For those who love anything Goan, this film needs your encouragement and hence it’s not to be missed.   

Published in The Navhind Times on 28th Dec 2014
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