Rating : 3.6/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2017
Running time : 1 hour 41 minutes
Director : Sarthak Dasgupta
Cast : Manav Kaul, Amrita Bagchi, Neena Gupta, Divya Dutta
Kid rating : PG13
Beni Madhav Singh (Manav Kaul) is a small-town music teacher, who makes a modest living in Shimla. When student Jyotsna (Amrita Bagchi) wins a singing competition and gets a shot at the big time, Beni is encouragement itself, but she is hesitant; Beni is all she wants. On his insistence she takes the opportunity and is catapulted to fame and fortune, far, far away from Beni.
When the film opens, it’s been 8 years and the love story has gone cold. But the small town is agog with excitement since Jyotsna Roy is coming to town for a concert. Beni, wallowing in memories, must face his conflicting emotions.
Music Teacher moves forwards and backwards in time, but is beautifully told. All the characters in the film, minor and major are well fleshed out, and we are truly invested in Beni’s life was we piece together the story. Kaul is a marvelous, understated actor (you might remember him from Tumhari Sulu) and Bagchi is no less. Neena Gupta as Beni’s mother manages to convey so much on screen; I especially liked the scene where she exhorts her son to go fulfill his dreams asking him “Are you happy?”
Director Sarthak Dasgupta has taken this love-tale and portrayed it very sensitively on screen. You feel for both Beni and Jyotsna, and the scene where they meet after a long, long time, he awkward and hesitant and she, unshed tears shimmering in kohl-laden eyes, was gorgeous and left me teary-eyed.
I can’t find a flaw in the film. It’s poetic, and tranquil, and so heartfelt. Quite lovely – do watch.
Kidwise: Some love-making scenes make this film a little PG-13-ish.
