Strings
A majority of films appeal across all demographic groups. A
few hold interest for the multiplex junta. And a tiny segment caters to a niche
audience. Director Sanjay Jha's new outing STRINGS belongs to the third
category.
After attempting a film on the life of middle class people living in chawls
PRAAN JAYE PAR SHAAN NA JAYE, Jha tells the story of an Englishman who arrives
in Nasik, India to partake in the Maha Kumbh.
Interesting storyline, for sure. But interesting ideas don't necessarily
translate into interesting films. The problem with STRINGS is that it rests on a
paper-thin plot and the backdrop of the Maha Kumbh is of no significance to the
storyline. Even otherwise, STRINGS comes across as a documentary on Maha Kumbh,
than a love story between an Englishman and a traditional Indian girl. To sum
up, STRINGS is more for the pseudo-critics than an ordinary moviegoer. It eyes
the Festival circuit mainly, not even the multiplex crowd.
Warren Hastings Adam Bedi, a British youth, arrives in Nasik with Maya Sandhya
Mridul, an urban Indian girl. Warren is plagued by a sort of unfulfilled quest,
for an understanding of the mysticism of India, beyond his realms of
imagination.
Maya puts up Warren at Krishna's Tannishtha Chatterjee residence. Krishna is the
only child of a temple priest Vineet Kumar, a widower. Warren and Krishna soon
realize that they love each other and one day, Krishna sheds her inhibitions and
succumbs to her feelings. In the end, Warren and Krishna realize that a deep
bond has developed between them.
Come to think of it, STRINGS acts more as a showcase of the Maha Kumbh than a
love story. Sure, it's a brilliant idea to place the story under the backdrop of
the Maha Kumbh, but frankly there's no dum in the story in the first place. In
fact, there's nothing in the film that would prompt the viewer to stay glued to
the screen for the next 90 minutes, except for some visuals of the Maha Kumbh.
While there's no movement in at least three-fourths of the story, the turning
point in the narrative -- when Warren and Krishna indulge in pre-marital sex --
also doesn't really come as a jolt or catch the viewer by surprise. Casual sex
amongst youth holds no shock-value today, so the subsequent portions -- the girl
starts feeling guilty and avoids the guy -- looks very strange, very weird.
Director Sanjay Jha focuses more on making colorful frames than packing in solid
content. However, the guerilla style of film-making form of film-making in which
scenes are shot quickly at real locations without any warning is what stands out
the most. The other redeeming feature is Rajeev Shrivastava's cinematography.
The locales of Nasik and the Maha Kumbh are a visual delight. As for the music,
it looks completely forced in the narrative and has no relevance to the plot.
None of the performances are worth noting. Adam Bedi has miles to go before he
can be called an actor. Tannishtha is too ordinary. Even the extremely efficient
Sandhya Mridul doesn't work. Vineet Kumar tries too hard, but doesn't deliver.
On the whole, STRINGS is a poor show.
|
