I wonder why there is a flurry of anthologies on OTT today. Is it because people are so overwhelmed by the pandemic that they feel burdened to make one film? Or perhaps it is because there is so much to say that one film cannot do justice to it all ?
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews #Unpaused on #AmazonPrime, an anthology of five shorts.
The first thing that struck me is the sheer variety of themes that are covered. Most of them are indeed related to the coronavirus pandemic and they make you wonder how so much of out lives can get impacted by one little virus. #Unpaused covered varied themes that include technology, virtual reality, mental health, me-too and the sexual harassment issue, old age, careers, ambition, class and religious divide and of course the issue of migrant labour. Phew… now you know why we need an anthology and not just one film.
I also love the fact that each of the films are so different. There is Glitch, a film that is set in the future...2030 perhaps when the pandemic is par for the course. This shows you the strife between a hypochondriac who refuses to set foot outside and a warrior who isn't. Raj and DK have cast #GulshanDeviah and #SaiyaamiKher in this tech drama and both impress. Next on the line is Apartment starring #RichaChadha , # and #IshwakSingh. This tale could be applicable even without the pandemic but does touch upon very relevant issues today. Third in line is the brilliantly titled Rat-A-Tat which deals with the interaction between a young woman (#RinkuRajguru of #Sairat fame) and a senior citizen (#LiletteDubey) who stays alone. Vishnu is next with its focus on migrant labour and features #AbhishekBanerjee and #GeethaOhlyan. Amidst the TikTok videos, there is an altogether different take on the issue here. And finally, bringing up the rear is Chand Mubarak which has very little happening in it but makes you think the most. This features #RatnaPathakShah and #ShardulBharadwaj.
Now let me do this differently. I will attempt to rank the films and would love to hear your feedback. In my opinion, the top pick goes to #Avinash’s Rat-A-Tat for a story well told with some superlative performances. The writing is sharp, thoughtful and I love the underlying tone of subtle humour laced all through the performances. #LiletteDubey is a champion and she is at her commendable best here but I think the casting coup is that of #RinkuRajguru and her expressive eyes. She plays Priyanka and combines a vulnerable empathy with a mischievous sense of comic timing. Needless to say, the Mumbai rains as a backdrop enhance the visuals. Actor turned director #TannishthaChatterjee does a great job marshalling the actors in this film.
Chaand Mubarak is the most mature film of the lot with a lot of emphasis on subtlety. The theme is religious divide and handled very well. I found the manner in which both protagonists strike a chord and learn some life lessons off each other very poignant. #NityaMehra’s work will have you thinking long after the short is over.
Vishaanu is a novel way of looking at migrant labour. Avinash is not focusing on the long treks back home or the harsh police action meted out to migrant labour. Instead, here is a family who is forced to take refuge in a sample flat in a building under construction during the pandemic. They cook, eat and live without using the rich furniture or furnishings. Their joy lies in the TikTok videos that they shoot once the child goes to sleep in the night. The irony of the fact that unlike their brethren, they do have a house but not a home that can be theirs is amazing.
#Raj and #DK get full marks for novelty. Glitch is a perfect story thinking out of the box and the performances by the leads are spot on. I loved the humorous take on this narrative.
#NikhilAdvani’s Apartment deals with very relevant issues of modern day life but is perhaps the least impactful.
At an overall level, I was not greatly impressed with #Unpaused. I think the product promises more than it ultimately delivers. As I switched off my video stream, I asked myself which story I would like to continue watching as a full blown feature film. And I picked Chaand Muabrak. How about you?
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