WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Flagrant audaciousness. Some people are, quite frankly, just a TAD too bold and outrageous when it comes to their personal behavior. Believing everything is an annoyance or beyond their capability to accept anything that is less than how THEY want it, it becomes only too evident that at SOME point, it will all come back to bite them. In a rather unkept apartment, work from home-based Praveen (Hussain Dalal) has quite a reputation for constantly ordering food online–and complaining about it ALL the time when the poor delivery people arrive. However, when one “had-it-up-to-HERE” driver named Bharati (Sayani Gupta) comes to his door, things take a rather blatant turn for, well, the extreme!
Next, my Mind:
Absolutely biting, playfully satiric hilarity with a surprisingly relevent message attached plus a fantastic twist for a finale added in, this 15-minute short film effort from writer/director/producer Keith Gomes along with producers Ashley Gomes, Sandeep Kamal, and Shabinaa Khan plus executive producer Soni Anthony Abraham provides us with one jolly bit of fun that also speaks to the real issue of people’s attitudes and the consequences of being a jerk. Having its NYC Premier as part of the 2021 NYC South Asian Film Festival sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Festival Director/Jingo Media Founder Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev, the project definitively illustrates yet again the means by which the short film format can be a bastion for pure entertainment in condensed form without feeling “cheated” out of a complete narrative.
In presenting a tale of the price paid for having a very bad manner with others and the belief no one would ever end up actually taking action against you because of it, the pacing here is perfect and keeps the viewer wholly occupied the entire time with its clever humor and over-the-top moments, delivering more than its fair share of insanity as the circumstances portrayed simply go from bad to worse. As hinted at earlier, what came as total shock almost is precisely how applicable, pertinent, and dare I say necessary the primary themes are here and the associated life lessons one could learn from it. As we are encountering a world in chaos, thanks mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic, the levels of agitation and flat out atmosphere of anger that exists currently boils over into everyone’s attitudes and does bring out the worst in us, admit it or not. It could be insecurities, loneliness, or possibly a sense of failure that becomes more evident than we might have thought.
The idea of how we so often DON’T think about how our demeanor might impact or influence another’s behavior is very much brought to life throughout the scenario this film conveys, even if played to a more ultimately comical degree. Additionally, it even pokes into the realms of just how much we rely on our technology to store so much that is important (or SECRET) to us and the thought of it not only getting exposed but used to exploit us, which is addressed here as well to very effective results in this critic’s opinion. Then, when all is laid bare, do we not proceed to give in to admitting our faults and mistakes, finally perhaps experiencing the regret of how we’ve treated others and ourselves, and realizing at times just how hollow and lost we are? This isn’t said to say we’re all broken like is being shown in a key sequence here, but again, it serves as a reminder that we ARE human, and how we interact or treat others IS an important facet we should always consider, regardless of the frustrations we might be facing.
To top it all off, if what we confront causes us to change our ways, that is the best result. But, whether we STAY in that newly transformed state–well, that could be a whole different matter, and this also is examined in the film as its beautifully orchestrated finale arrives. Dalal is excellent in his role here as Praveen, a true cad and unpleasant individual whose notion of how to treat people, especially all those associated with his favorite place to order food, is less than amiable. But, when the tables get unexpectedly turned on him, the moral of his story takes a drastic turn and cause him to have to THINK about his ways. The only question will become–can he change for the better and stick to it? It’s a gem of a performance as Dalal navigates the highly volatile attitudes of Praveen with skill and the kind of comedic and dramatic timing needed to make a film like this function.
Very similarly, Gupta provides us with a charmingly witty, then intensely fiery, then highly vulnerable performance through her role as Bharati, a delivery driver for the food service Dalal abuses to no end and who has decided she’s had quite enough of his consistent rudeness. Taking matters into her own hands in order to teach him a lesson or two, her resolve is steadfast and stern until events take on a totally different direction that suddenly births abject panic in her, with the final outcome likewise diverging to a path not anticipated. What makes this character so magnificently dynamic to watch is the precision by which Gupta embodies the equally volatile moods and crisis of conscious Bharati faces as the story progresses, and it is both entertaining and heartbreaking in a way to see how trapped Bharati ends up feeling in spite of it being the object of her consternation pushing her to the limits she’s reached. It’s both jocular and dramatic, and Gupta plays it all with grace and passion.
The primary supporting appearance arrives from Rishab Kapoor. So, in total, “Shameless” takes teaching us about the ramifications of outrageously brazen behavior to terrifically hilarious levels while also allowing for more serious and transparent moments to have their place as well. It makes the film very well-rounded for a standard dramedy effort, and I feel a further demonstration of the magic indie film can give us. And just remember when you’re abusing the poor folks at the online food locale you frequent–be warned. You never know who might come knocking!
Miss viewing “Shameless” at either physical festival? Worry not! Check out the film online as it currently screens as part of Virtual SAFF 2021!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
