A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Murtaza Ali Khan
Have you ever been in love? What
was it that got you attracted to your lover in the first place? Was it physical
appearance? Or was it some personality trait? What does beauty mean to you? Raj
Kapoor had endeavored to explore these questions in his 1978 film Satyam Shivam
Sundaram. Four decades later, National Award-winning filmmaker Onir
has come out with a film titled 'Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz' which too dares to ask
similar questions about love and beauty. A lot has changed in these forty years
but the human longing for companionship is still pretty much the same.
By Murtaza Ali Khan
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| Zain Khan Durrani as RJ Alfaaz in Onir's Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz |
Set in Kolkata, Kuchh Bheege
Alfaaz tells the story of two lonely individuals who accidentally come in
contact with each other when one of them dials a wrong number. The guy is a shy
individual named Alfaaz while the girl named Archana aka Archie works for an
agency that generates memes and although she suffers from a congenital skin
condition she believes in living her life to the fullest. What ensues is a
series of conversations between the shy Alfaaz and the fun-loving Archie; at first
they exchange text messages but gradually they start calling each other up. But
unbeknownst to Archana, the bond between her and Alfaaz runs much deeper. Every
night at 10, the city of Kolkata tunes into radio to listen to 'Kuchh Bheege
Alfaaz' on 92.7 BIG FM. Just like everyone else in the city, it is Archie’s favorite
programme. The show is hosted by none other than Alfaaz, who, haunted by a tragic
past, prefers to keep his identity a secret. How will Archie react when she
finally learns that her chat buddy is none other than RJ Alfaaz himself?
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| Geetanjali Thapa as Archana aka Archie in Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz |
Onir, the only openly gay filmmaker
in the industry, is known for making films that have touched upon debates
surrounding sexuality in a most sensitive manner. While ‘My Brother… Nikhil’
focuses on the issue of hardship and humiliation faced by AIDS patients, ‘Bas
Ek Pal’ deals with the complexity of human relationships.’ I Am’, on the other
hand, is a collection of four short stories exploring themes as diverse as
motherhood, homosexuality, and child abuse. His previous film ‘Shab’ was a dark
brooding treatise on the opportunistic relationships in the underbelly of the
Delhi's elite social circles. Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz explores the possibility of friendship
and love between two complete strangers who are connected though social media.
Produced by Yoodlee Films, a venture of Saregama, Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz is based
on a screenplay by Abhishek Chatterjee. The film stars the National
Award-winning actress Geetanjali Thapa, Zain Khan Durrani, and Shray Tiwari in
the pivotal roles.
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| Geetanjali Thapa and Shray Tiwari in Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz |
After watching Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz,
I am convinced beyond doubt that amongst the Indian filmmakers alive and making
films today it is Onir who can handle the complexities of human relationships
the best, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Vintage Onir, Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz
is not a straightforward film. It slowly unravels like some puzzle. The film is
likely to confound the average viewer looking for a straightforward love story.
It is a film that may require some time to fully absorb. Here is a film that can actually serve as a unique case study for those looking to devise new means of online couples counseling. The screenplay by Abhishek
Chatterjee, although a wee bit predictable at times, is quite mature and
effective. The film is beautifully shot by Nusrat F. Jafri and seamlessly
edited by Irene Dhar Malik. Shashwat Srivastava’s music immensely adds to the
film’s poignant beauty. The soulful performances by Geetanjali Thapa and Zain
Khan Durrani are the movie’s major highlight. Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz is not meant
for casual viewing but if you are looking for something deep and meaningful
then you are encouraged to take the plunge.
Rating: 8/10
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz - Official Trailer (YouTube)
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