2013 has been a good year for the indie films that have released. Most of them
have got the recognition that they desired, some are up for release and some of
them were even considered for the official Oscar Nominations (Ship of
Theseus).
B.A Pass is a film that brings up
a topic which is known to everyone; yet never spoken of in the society. Based
on a short story, The Railway Aunty, B.A Pass is taut, gripping and uninhabited
portrayal of the truth that the society tries to hide and be silent about. In
the miniscule universe of the amoral world, where the narrative unfolds, deceit
and deception lies at every corner.
We meet Mukesh (Shadab Kamal), at
his parents funeral. Burdened with the responsibility of two younger sisters
and his own future, he is sent to his relative's place in New Delhi where he
gets himself enrolled for the B.A Pass course. Life isn't sweet anymore. He has
no friends. His aunt treats him like a servant. In this sheer melancholic life,
he finds solace in reading Kasparov Chess moves and enjoying a game of chess
with the keeper of the graveyard.
His life, being humdrum and
humiliating takes a sharp turn as he meets Sarika (Shilpa Shukla), the
seductive cougar who later admits that all Mukesh could learn from her was sex.
The screenplay lets the story
stretch to its maximum level and and what transpires on screen is an
unapologetic showcase of a guy who by his own admission is lured into or rather
is seduced to render his services to the unsatisfied aunties in the neighbourhood.
He earns. And earns well. But hardly does he realise that he has entered a
place from which lets getting out extremely difficult.
Ajay Bahl's screenplay is super
tight, the characters are believable, the setting is natural and the execution
is almost flawless. The Cinematography is brilliant. Pahadganj looks exactly
what it should look like; hiding dark secrets in its neon glow.
This is one film that will
genuinely make you read through the sub-text and understand the plot on a level
which questions morality but also throws another question at the same time,
is it really important?
Shilpa Shukla is brilliant in the
role of the seductress aunty. Totally unabashed portrayal of a woman so
strongly driven by her desires. She gets the nuances right and boss the rest is
just fantastic!
Shadab Kamal manages to get
through his role. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is excellent as Mukesh's friend. In
what has been my favourite dialogue from the film (muh haath dho le, Banda ban
ja), Mukesh's buaji plays her role with great honesty.
B.A Pass is a dark film. It is
dark even by the noir standards. There is no scope for the slightest amount of
positivity that you, as an audience would want to take out from this
film.
The film lives in negativity and
basks in that glory. For once has Bollywood so grippingly created an aura about
negativity!
It is not a regular film. It
disturbs you as a viewer, throws everything in the manner they are and in what
is a rarity in Bollywood, the sex scenes aren't cringe worthy.
Yes it is an impressive film
despite being dark and yes it is out rightly BOLD in what it showcases, B.A
Pass does not leave you with anything to ponder upon. And that, according to
me, is its only shortcoming.
**3STARS**
No comments:
Post a Comment