Review : Everybody says I’m fine

Rating : Above average (3.7/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2001
Running time : 1 hr and 40 minutes
Director : Rahul Bose
Cast : Rehaan Engineer, Pooja Bhatt, Koel Purie, Boman Irani, Anahita Ueroi, Rahul Bose, Sharokh Bharucha, Junelia Aguilar

EVERYBODY SAYS I’M FINE (ESIF) : INTERESTING !

This film is directed by Rahul Bose, and he acts in it too. In the first half I was inclined to dismiss him as a director, because the film had a surreal, psychedelic, disjointed quality to it, as though shot by an amateur. No sophistication, no smoothening over awkward moments, just the bald truth put out very crudely. Like someone was shooting a home movie. However it gets better, so a large dose of patience is in order.

The story is a little surreal too – it’s about a popular hair-dresser to the richie-rich (who else actually goes in for Rs.1100 trims ?) Xen who after a traumatic childhood experience, is able to listen to people’s thoughts. Not always though, but only when he’s connected to them – like when he’s cutting their hair.

Now Xen, who’s also the owner of the beauty salon where he cuts hair, is a very, very nice guy, to the point where I’m thinking – how can such a nice guy actually run a successful business ? So he treats his co-workers very well, is welcoming to all his patrons (although he can hear all their sordid thoughts) and is a do-gooder kind of a guy. So, when he knows a person is in trouble, he does what he can to help. You’d think hearing everyone’s anguish and filth would be troubling for oneself, yeah ? Apparently for Xen too, who in his apartment above the salon, has the TV switched on but forever on mute, lives very quietly, and seems to have hardly any friends or life besides his work.

Into this odd life comes Nikita. She’s come to have a hair-cut but when Xen cuts her hair, much to his surprise he can’t hear a thing. It’s like she has no thoughts ! Xen is attracted to Nikita, but soon discovers that she’s plagued by her own demons . . .

The film seemed to come together as time went by, and Bose actually managed to cobble together some quite poignant scenes. The film’s characters seemed a little angular, as in not well-rounded or well-fleshed out, probably because we see them only in the hair salon or in close proximity to it. The outside world is kind of shut out, which it can’t possibly be – not in India, where noises and smells of your surroundings (however posh they might be) come seeping in. The main protagonist Rehan Engineer, seemed a little wooden-faced but did OK, while Brit-desi Koel Puri playing Nikita, just about managed. Some of the other characters – Tanya, a rich socialite having trouble in her marital home, was well portrayed by Pooja Bhatt. And Boman Irani had a small part – that of Mr. Mittal, which he as usual was immaculate in.

An interesting film, this is primarily in English, with a smattering of Hindi (Hinglish if you please). It is pretty adult-themed, ie; topics unsuitable for children. ESIF is also very stylistically shot, and may not appeal to viewers looking for a “traditional” film. It has an interesting story to tell though, so if you arm yourself with some patience and forbearance, you might actually like this one.