Beyond The Clouds

*ing: Abhay Deol, Patralekhaa, Reshma Khan

Rated: 6/10

Iconic Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s inaugural Bollywood film was the centrepoint of discussions at the International Film Festival of India this year. A theatrical release of the film may not create the same waves for a number of reasons, the first being its parallel cinema makeover.

Set in the bad lanes of crime-ridden Mumbai slums, Beyond The Clouds is expectedly seeped in poverty, crime, angst, sexual harassment, exploitation and all those emotional realities that visit any slum dweller. For one, Majidi’s Spartan sense of cinema encases this aspect with minimum fuss but maximum impact.

The unkempt, tousled haired Ishaan at the centre of this journey through life is apt, intense and a perfect fit of the character he plays. A hustler who is learning to live in the mean streets of the slum, indulging in petty crime. For end of day solace, he does turn to his loving elder sister who tries her best to keep him happy under her own set of trying circumstances which include a bad marriage, sexual exploitation at work and constant stalking from a fat and ugly man at the dhobhighat.

Majidi showcases how the duo survives in the rough and tumble of such a negative scenario, especially after the sister gets booked for murder and the brother is compelled to look after the victim’s family which comes visiting their dying father with their grandmother.

All this and much more is beautifully captured on camera but that’s what Majidi is expected to do. All his characters are well-sketched and fleshed out, which too is business as usual for the filmmaker. However, despite the capturing the lows the film is not outstanding in that jacket. It is okay not powerful, it is interesting not entirely capturing.

Source: Sunday Pioneer, 22 April, 2018