WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
The ethics of our conscious. As we traverse our daily practices, whether at home, our jobs, or with our friends, there at least should lie a certain manner of perspective that lingers in the back of our minds, a means by which to carry ourselves in such a way so as to make every effort to ensure we co-exist with all circumstances with a sense of virtuous decorum. However, what happens when all those notions suddenly get challenged and tested to a point of breaking our own rules?
Shyam (Sumeet Vyas) is a humble school teacher in the village of Meja, causing him to have to travel and live there away from his beloved wife Roopa (Preeti Sharma) for sometimes months at a time. This trip, Shyam is given a task–bring home a custom made blouse as a gift to Roopa for Karwa Chauth by master clothier Babu Tailor (Imran Rasheed). When fulfilling this request becomes an unexpected misadventure, will Shyam end up getting what he wants?
Next, my Mind:
I’ve mentioned this countless times in regard to the independent film community’s efforts, but perhaps even more so specifically when it comes to my experiences in South Asian cinema–it is an industry so utterly adept at creating wholly entertaining stories and characters while maintaining the ability to make completely apposite socially aware, deeply human, and/or life-lesson-infused statements without them seeming forced or preachy. This is precisely what I felt about this 20-minute short film effort from writer/director Vijayeta Kumar, writer Sanjay Chandwara, producer Ranjan Singh, co-producer Sachin Suresh Gurav, and executive producer Mohit Kilam.
Screened as part of the “Shorts Rewind” programming at the 2020 ECSA: Escapist Cinema of South Asia online film festival presented by Jingo Media and sister festivals DFW SAFF and NYC SAFF, the narrative delivered here takes on such a beautifully whimsical, downright hilarious tone in telling the tale of one school teacher’s awkward and highly humbling plight in gaining possession of a coveted blouse his doting yet still “show me you love me”-instilling wife desires as a gift for the upcoming Karwa Chauth festival. The rather–unorthodox–method he’s persuaded to engage with in order to gain his wife’s blouse size after an unintentional blunder is a complete riot to watch unfold, filled with close calls, comical encounters, and creative ways he tries to obtain the information.
Yet, in the midst of all of this jocularity, what struck me was the legitimate levels of seriousness and dramatic impact the story hands us as well, as one could easily say it addresses concepts of body image, devotion and commitment, our moral compass, what’s considered beautiful vs. what IS, humiliation at one’s actions, matters of perspective and being too quick to judge a situation without knowing the real facts, and maybe at the heart of it all, forgiveness. Still, the film’s ultimate intent is for a superbly rousing laugh, and again, it runs aplenty with sequences that provide just that, with especially leading up to a cleverly written twist in Shyam’s pursuits and a finale that puts a wonderfully executed, magnificently comedic, and very definitive punchline to the events.
Vyas brings about such a perfectly well-played authenticity to his role as Shyam, a school teacher who has to travel for months on end to the village in which he works, hence leaving behind his wife Roopa, which we can tell isn’t something he relishes. On the advent of him returning to Meja, Roopa gives him a task to complete, which he promises to fulfill. The wild goose chase that ensues takes more (hysterical) turns for the worse than success. Once thinking he has the answer, a new twist only makes matters more inopportune and, for him, inappropriate, coming to a crossroads he must then face. It’s such a mix of both comedic timing and the need for moments of genuine earnestness, and Vyas carries it all off with wonderful precision and entertaining panache that wins you over to his quandary.
Rasheed is also full-on fun, but in a more subdued yet no less impactful way, in his portrayal of Babu Tailor, the master of his craft in Meja and the source of both Shyam’s need and his subsequent muddle. Watching as he makes the suggestion that becomes Shyam’s bane then redemption and how he manages the situation is witty and endearing, well-acted by Rasheed. Sharma shines as Shyam’s wife Roopa, a woman who knows she’s loved by her man and is more than satisfied with the affection, yet has a frustration within that mildly but emphatically shouts something along the “why don’t you buy me diamonds”-level expectations minus the accompanying pretentious attitude. Her reactions to her hubby’s efforts are unanticipated given how the story actually ends, and Sharma’s comedic timing during that moment is priceless.
The last primary character, and a hugely key element to the narrative’s twist, is brought to likewise dramatic and sharp-witted life by Ronjini Chakraborty as Kanta, a local Meja resident who’s part to play in the tale is one both unpredicted and integral to several of the morals the film presents about the thematic explorations listed earlier. Chakraborty fufills the part with flare, marked purpose, and believability. More than that, folks, you have to watch the film to get more at what her part to play in it all truly is. So, in total, “Blouse” stands as a fantastic example of the intelligently presented combination of unconditionally playful humor and fully conspicuous object lessons, lighthearted at its core, but uncompromising in its assertions about the moments in life that define us, allow us to grow, and ideally, become even better versions of ourselves out of it all. Or, at least we hope so!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
