WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Acquiring all that you yearn for. A relatable objective we can all attest has captured our attention, even our very being, on more than one occasion. It’s an influential drive spurred on by any number of factors. There is a controlled pursuit of it, calculated and rational while there can also be a more impulsive, potentially reckless engagement that may or may not yield the reactions and results intended. Then again, maybe that’s the point. About to turn into a teenager, a Sikh boy named Montek (Mohammad Samad) is trying to ascertain his future. While out supposedly running an errand for his mother Beeba (Ekavali Khanna), Montek makes a monumental choice that will forever become a valuable, yet maybe maligned, part of who he is, and who he wishes to become.
Next, my Mind:
Tradition, custom, and societal expectation collide with the unfettered innocense, hopeful dreams, and intransigent mind of youth with results both inspired and provocative thanks to this 15-minute short film effort from writer/director Divij Roopchand and producer Nikolai Hamel which screened as a 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. It honestly comes across as a somewhat daring experiment to specifically showcase the much more independent thinking of contemporary adolescence, not in a manner to say heritage–religious, ethnic, or otherwise–is not important or irrelevant as much as perhaps a choice more freely made now.
I applaud efforts of filmmakers who are willing to address and/or explore their cultural conventions, observances, and practices in challenging ways, as it truly reflects the modern means of an individual, in this case a young boy, battling the concept of inherent belief vs. self-identity and personal decisions that may fly in the face of those exact resolutions as placed upon them by family. Again, it isn’t to instigate mass rebellion, but illustrate the very elements that make us human no matter what race, color, or creed we hail from. This narrative showcasing one boy’s insistence on establishing his own identity is quite magical in its insurgency against said tradtions, only in that it ultimately isn’t at all about him rejecting his background as much as re-defining a bit to suit his self-image.
I likewise enjoyed the mild yet equal amount of mature obstinance brought about in the adults Montek interacts with while he tries to gain access to the one primary item he requires to further his agenda. There’s a questioning posed by everyone he runs into, even as he attempts to elude their probing by coming up with an excuse for asking what he is. It definitely shows the maturity of those adults who’ve maybe had their own experiences with a child who seems up to something mischievous, hence the hesitations by some to assist Montek in his quest, even though eventually, he gets his way, with the results delivering a finale that speaks volumes about the subsequent reactions to his decision without having to, literally, have any words spoken at all. That’s the wonder of well-conceived imagery and execution of production, which is done here to excellent effect.
Child actors consistently amaze me in that I always keep being baffled how filmmakers continue to find such incredible talent at such young ages, who aren’t just “cute faces” but honest-to-God ACTORS. This was again a fact displayed in full measure through the enchanting yet maturely captivating performance of Samad as Montek, a boy from a Sikh background whose about to become a teenager. With all the gift ideas his mother presents as options displeasing or childish to him, Montek takes it upon himself to go after what he wants, with the ensuing measures taken and their culmination becomes a statement of empowerment and controversary. It’s a subtle yet impassioned rendering of culture clashing with conscious when seeking self-esteem, and Samad excels.
Primary supporting roles begin through the always vibrant Khanna as Montek’s mother Beeba, a woman determined to maintain her son’s heritage as tradition would demand while still treating him more like a little child in some ways than a boy on the verge of the next level of his youth. Her reaction to his ultimate choice is so stirringly nuanced and it adds much to the moment of revelation her character encounters. Established actor Rajesh Tailang makes his presence known as a local tailor who makes a particular choice that will reverberate more than he realizes when it comes to Montek. Manoj Kumar appears as a barber whose trade is of specific interest to Montek, and Satish Gotham is a store owner who initially stymies Montek’s goals without fully knowing he’s done so.
In total, “Mast Qalandar” resonates, with absolute authority, its concepts and intentions unwaveringly and unapologetically, to an extent of which I could only imagine elicited quite varied reactions upon the film’s original release back in 2017. But, for this critic, that has been the potent wonder of independent cinema, as the genre as a whole is really all about going against the “norms” or “standards” thematically found in mainstream filmmaking. Instead, it opts to be bold and unflinching in taking on the very thing that makes this world what it is–our humanity–with all the imperfection and beauty that accompanies that magnificent journey.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
