Director : Salim Ahamed
Cast : Salim Kumar, Zarina Wahab, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu
Salim Ahamed’ s directorial debut.
I have seen Salim Kumar earlier in other Malayalam films but never, in a way that, I recognized him as a person with so much depth. Not that I really changed my opinion completely, as I feel, for a lot of actors playing a so called, strong character, requires them to look un conventional, and in most cases non glamorous. Salim Kumar was made to look un attractive, to an extent that you have come to believe the other part of what I thought the film tried to portray, the golden heart of a man, so ordinary. Ordinary for me not always should be un-attractive. Or is it? Well, since we have been talking about it, let me add that this trend is not just limited to Indian cinema, I can recollect quite a few Academy winning performances, which required an absolutely non-glamorized versions of actors as well. Sling Blade, Rainman some movies from the top of my head.
For those of you who have seen “Salaam Bombay”, if you remember Raghuvir Yadav, he played the part, to the core. I feel Salim Kumar lacked the conviction, he was appealed for audience’s empathy. He didn’t get it completely naturally, he begged the audience. Whereas as a character as righteous as him, doesn’t or wouldn’t care for anyone’s sympathy, he is beyond such feelings/need. Here I felt a strong appeal to the audience for a sense of acceptance. Why? What did he want, why did he want a re-assurance?
Since, I’ve been on this tangent, let me add to one more bit. Akbar travels? Where did that fit, why was the need to patronize it? It would have been so much better, had that been an fictitious one.
I liked “Ustad” (meaning Maestro/master), I liked the name. I liked the character and I like the way how the character was subtly dealt with. That was brilliant as per me.
I liked the cobbler, a really “no one”, no attempt to force at being “no one”. He played a “no one” so well.
But a subject dealt well, and moments so well captured, it was indeed intriguing and thought provoking.
It was great to watch this film at the 35th Portland International Film Festival at Cine Magic Theatre, 2021 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland. Nothing fancy at all about the theatre, but just pure cinema, nothing more.
*India’s nomination to Academy Award, 2011. Bagged a lot of National Film Awards.
