Movie Review : Gandhi Talks
Gandhi Talks is a silent film set in Mumbai. Vijay Sethupathi is an upright and honest, out of work young man who moonlights in odd jobs to eke out a living. He lives with his sick, aged mother in a chawl, deeply in debt , unable to even afford a meal for her.
He loves his neighbour's daughter ( Aditi Rao Hydari) who is better off than him, whose parents are not looking for a groom for her.
One day, pushed to the edge by his circumstances, he decides to end his penury and get rich quick by robbing a tycoon Boseman ( Arvind Swami). He comes to this desperate act after a corrupt system doesnt give him his due, a job after his father's death.
After plotting for days, he finally manages to get into the huge mansion. What happens next? Does he succeed ? Does a good man turn into a successful criminal?
Director Belekar has painstakingly put together a delightful cinematic experience that speaks to you on several levels.
The silent treatment is limited only to dialogues and not the bgm and songs. Once you get used to this world, the film draws you into it beautifully. This is largely due to the excellent performances of the actors.
Vijay Sethupathi is normally is superb actor, but without dialogues, with just expressions and body language, he takes his acting to the next level. We get to see finely nuanced facial expressions that speak to the viewer and instantly strike a chord - silently. Aditi Rao Hydri, adds life to his dull world of pain and penury, and is a joy to watch. Together the pair make magic on screen.
Arvind Swami soars in the emotional scenes and as the rich tycoon who has lost so much, he brings the right amount of dignity and pathos to his character.
Scenes in which Arvind and Sethupathi come together are delicious highlights of the film. Watch out for a joyful dance number of the duo.
AR Rahman's bgm scores big though the songs dont really make much of an impact. The camerawork by Karan B Rawat, with just the right color tones for different scenes is exemplary. The way he captures Mumbai in his frames adds to the character of the film. The production design by Durgaprasad Mahapatra deserves kudos covering a spectrim right from the chawls to the tycoon palatial mansion. Sound design is also a plus in this film.
There are portions in the second half that slow down the film for a bit. But the dramatic flourishes manage to make up for it.
The film plays with the Gandhian touch all along and imparts a meaningful and positive message in an old- worldly charming way that is touching and brings a smile to your face.
Laced with humor and high on emotion, the charming and aesthetically made oeuvre is a delightful watch.
Rating 3.5/5
Cast:
Vijay Sethupathi
Arvind Swami
Aditi Rao Hydari
Writer & Director - Kishor Pandurang ‘Belekar’
Producers: Rajesh Kejriwal, Gurpal Sachar
Producers: Umesh Kumar Bansal, Meerra Chopraa, Kishor P Belekar
Co-Producer: Anil Bhandari
Production House - Zee Studios, Kyoorius, Pincmoon & Moviemill Entertainment
Creative Producer - Nisheeth Chandra
Associate Producer - Deepak R. Nangalia
Director Of Photography - Karan B. Rawat
Production Designer - Durgaprasad Mahapatra
Costume Designers - Neetu Bharadwaj, Priyanka Dubey, Kavitha
Sound Designer - Justin Jose
Music Supervisor - Shubham Bhat
Makeup Designer - Rohit Mahadik
Editor - Ashish Mhatre
VFX - Postmen Studios
DI - Prime Focus Ltd.
DI Colorist - Ashirwad Hadkar (ISC)
Post-Production Head - Paras Fulambarkar
Tamilnadu & Kerala Theatrical Release by Raahul - Romeo Pictures
