REVIEW: Masala

A TOUCH OF CLASS

By now Umesh and Girish Kulkarni have acquired such a glowing reputation with their combined oeuvre as writer-actor-director that you approach their films with heightened anticipation. Nothing they lend their names to is likely to be sub-standard or simplistic. In fact, you seek out meaning in every nook and cranny assuming that surely there's more to it than superficial plot. This is exactly what happens with Masala, a film they have co-produced and Girish has written and acted in. It's helmed by noted theatre director from Pune, Sandesh Kulkarni, who also happens to be Sonali Kulkarni's brother.

Fresh from his Best Actor National Award, Girish slips into a character type he is evidently most comfortable with -- the gullible, ever-trusting simpleton unspoilt by experience or afflicted with cynicism. Much of the charm of Masala comes from this character's believability. Even though he gets conned at every turn and spends the entire first half on the run from creditors -- his loving wife Sarika (Amruta Subhash) in tow -- he doesn't look at the next person he has to deal with, with even an iota of suspicion. Perhaps the tagline for Masala then is, "the triumph of the fool".

But it's never that simple. Especially in a film littered with pearls of wisdom. Even behind prison bars, where the protagonist lands up on account of his over-enthusiasm to strike conversation with a constable, he meets a wise cell-mate. The half-murderer (he specialises in this line of work he proudly declares) tells him he needs to find his niche, his identity. Revan doesn't dismiss his advice simply because he's a man of dubious credentials. Later, there's a fatherly businessman and a mad scientist who teach him about trusting the right people and working incessantly on problems even when there's no solution in sight.

But hey, don't mistake this for a preachy film with a message. It's as frothy and entertaining as they come. Part-road movie, part-love story, it's a tale of friendship and of man's perpetual struggle to make ends meet and fulfill dreams. Notice the detailing of many of the supporting characters as they enact a precise comedy of manners. Unlike the Kulkarni duo's earlier work, this is a much softer, kinder film, a plea for compassion; hence the unrealistic, romantic end doesn't rankle.  

Cliche as it sounds, Masala is a small film with a big heart and peopled by gifted actors who bring their goodwill as much as their talent to the show. There's a small scene towards the end not necessary to the narrative flow, but important nonetheless. The businessman played by Mohan Agashe hands out a blank cheque to Dr Shriram Lagoo, (in a guest appearance as a perfume-seller) who accepts it with quivering arms -- the octogenarian has been suffering from Parkinson's for several years. It's an inside moment; a group of young filmmakers doffing a hat to a veteran for showing them the way. It's an act of love, gratitude and generosity, much like the film itself.

Comments

[Deepa Deosthalee]

Thanks Mother. Didn't write it because I wasn't sure.

[Leena]

Sandesh Kulkarni is Sonali Kulkarni's brother and husband of Amruta Subhash.