Published in: DFW SAFF 2018

DFW SAFF 2018 Film Review “Dhh”

Author OneFilmFan

Published on: March 10, 2018

NO TRAILER CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

First, the Recap:

How do you overcome failure? When involved with any endeavor where success is based on a graded scale, as for instance school courses, and you come up short no matter how hard you try, two things will happen–you try harder and overcome, or you decide to just “let it slide”. While the latter is easier, pursuing the former could lead you to discover your true potential. Let’s take, for example, three friends–Gungan (Kahaan), Bajrang (Kuldeep Sodha), and Vakil (Karan Patel)–for which being in school is–a challenge. Constantly goofing off and therefore having no actual hope of passing any of their classes, they resign themselves to this and simply get in trouble and enjoy life.

However, on a particular day while playing hooky, them come across a magic show and are awestruck by the illusions performed by the Magician (Naseeruddin Shah). Suddenly thinking magic is the key to passing their school exams, they arrange to send a letter to the Magician asking for a trick to do so. Even as time passes with no reply, all the while continuing on their current path of punishments at school and stern warnings at home, Gungan’s grandfather’s (Archan Trivedi) efforts to help them only gets brushed aside in the wake of the boy’s belief magic is their only answer. Upon finally hearing back from the Magician, who provides a means for them to make the grade, it becomes an incredible tale about life, learning, persevering, and that magic is sometimes closer to us than we realize.

Next, my Mind:

Heartwarming and stirring in its tone, uplifting, encouraging, and highly relevant with its message, and simply excellent in its overall execution, this 128-minute indie feature film effort from writer/director/producer Manish Saini made a huge international debut splash at DFW SAFF 2018. Filled with both side-splitting humor and emotionally-charged drama, the film paints a fun yet all-too-real portrait of the educational system in order to remind us all about the importance of learning and the absolute need for it as it applies to current and future generations of kids. “Childhood is not just a time or phase in our lives but rather a place in our minds we often revisit”, says Saini. “The story of “Dhh” hopes to take its audience on a nostalgic journey to the days of innocence and unquestioned faith. It is dedicated to all those who as kids believed that magic can truly solve the bigger problems in life”. In addition, the theme of just having the chance to find what makes you happy is strong, to which Saini states that “the film tried to convey that a true victory is when you find happiness and not when you score 99/100, and that real success is when you make progress and not just stand first in class”. The visual look of the film is clean and crisp like so many other efforts at this year’s Festival, the music score is wonderful, and it just keeps illustrating the talent pool independent cinema has to offer.

Speaking of said talent pool, nothing could make that statement even more conclusive than when it comes to the actors playing the narrative’s primary protagonists, Gungan, Bajrang, and Vakil. Kahaan is Gungan, a middle-class boy whose grandfather he cherishes far more than the stormy relationship with his father, and whose study habits really don’t exist. But, without passing his exams, he will be sent away to boarding school. Sodha is Bajrang, a portly and quite mischievous boy whose own situation involving school isn’t much better, as upon failing to pass his exams, he will be a three-time loser and face being expelled. Yet, even in the face of this, his carefree demeanor and offbeat humor drive him forward, knowing deep inside he wants success. Then there’s Patel as Vakil, in many respects the most straight-laced boy among them, yet he cannot seem to find a good grade either. For him, the penalty in not passing will equal a one-way trip to live with his Aunt, who basically terrifies him. The three of these characters together is both endearingly hilarious yet, initially, painfully heartbreaking in that we see how much possibility exists for them all if they would just find that way to become motivated and steadfast to work hard. Watching them attain this and the means by which it happens is genius, and it speaks volumes of hope, all so well acted by these three amazing kids.

Supporting turns are very numerous and no less integral to the narrative here. Shah is one of the best character actors out there, and for the small amount of overall screen time he actually gets here as the Magician, he makes the most of it with the expected flare and artistic panache one anticipates from this veteran actor. Trivedi as Gungan’s Grandfather is another exercise in fun and seriousness, as his heart to see these three kids find their way is so overtly genuine, as is his love for laddoos! But the efforts he goes to is intentional and filled with true purpose, and watching it all unfold is moving. Additional turns are present from Krunal Pandit as Gungan’s strict but well-meaning father, Brijendra Kala and Sunil Vishrani as exasperated teachers dealing with the trio’s antics, Amit Divatia as the school’s equally longsuffering Headmaster, and Mahesh Vaidya as a friend of Grandfather.

In total, with such a powerfully influential message, air of innocence, and amazingly engaging entertainment value, “Dhh” is an indie film not to miss and one can only hope this gets played in schools and/or to families all around the world who could benefit from it. I can think of no better summation at this point than from Saini himself, who stated “Life is an addition of many small instances that seem insignificant, but time often adds them up to teach us immeasurable lessons. The process of learning from life is where the magic happens, and this story aspires to magnify this magical experience”. May it be a refreshed way to think.

As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!