Rating : 3.5/5
Genre : Anthology
Year : 2021
Running time : 2 hours 22 minutes
Director : Neeraj Ghaywan, Kayoze Irani, Shashank Khaitan, Raj Mehta
Cast : Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Roy Hydari, Shefali Chaya, Jaideep Ahlawat, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Manav Kaul, Nusrat Bharucha,
Kidwise : PG-13
Ajeeb Dastaans turned out to be just that – Ajeeb – odd or eccentric. This is an anthology of 4 tales helmed by 4 different directors, and they each focus on women’s lives, and the impact class, society, circumstance and general powerlessness has on their lives. Out of the 4 I’m only impressed with 2.
The first, Majnu, is about the fallout of an arranged marriage, where the two people in the marriage had rather not be in it but can’t leave. Lipakshi (Sheikh, from Ludo) craves her husband’s (Ahlawat of the magnificent Paatal Lok) love, and not getting that makes a play for every other man who crosses her path. Things don’t really get serious until Lipakshi takes a liking to Raj, her husband’s newly-hired, smart young Accountant. Both Sheikh and Ahlawat are impressive performers, but even they can’t save this shallow, predictable, rough-edged tale. The story seems jaded and hackneyed but might have been better if it had some subtlety to it.
The second, Khilauna, has Nusrat Bharucha as Minal, a streetsmart single young maid who’s learnt to survive sans any family and support. This story was honestly the weirdest of the lot and the ending didn’t make sense – and didn’t have the build-up to make it seem realistic. Bharucha brings in plenty of insouciance as the conniving Minal, but can’t quite fit into the role.
The third, Geeli Pucchi is the best, and about 2 women. Bharti Mondal (Konkona) is a lesbian, Dalit woman working on a factory floor although she has her eyes set on a desk job. When that data operator job is given to a new hire – the lovely, feminine, just-married Priya Sharma, Bharti is upset but can’t do much about it. Priya and Bharti slowly becomes friends, although over time Bharti will realize some home-truths.
Geeli Puchhi was so effective because of the fabulous performances. Konkona Sen is so spot-on in her portrayal! Hydari also perfectly plays the chirpy upper-caste Priya, who’s oblivious of her privilege. The story is beautifully layered and there’s an element of poetic justice in its climax. Both Bharti and Priya are circumscribed by their gender, class and societal notions of what females can and cannot do, but it is clear whom we are rooting for.
Ankahi is the last film in this anthology and has the lovely Shefali Shah as the mother of a teenager who is slowly losing her hearing. Her husband’s denial to deal with their daughter’s deteriorating condition drive her to seek solace in other places. Both Shah and Kaul are wonderfully expressive, and the chemistry, even in silence, is palpable. Quite lovely, Ankahi is my second favorite film of these 4.
Kidwise: Adult situations and themes.
