'Sniff' Review: Whiff of an average fare

Film: Sniff

Cast: Khushmeet Gill, Surekha Sikri, Manmeet Singh, Sushmita Mukherjee, Putul Guha

Director: Amole Gupte

What's it about:

Sunny Gill (Khushmeet Gill), an eight-year-old boy, has always had a blocked nose, and therefore, no sense of smell. This seems to be a prominent problem as he comes from a family of pickle makers. A freak accident gives Sunny the most refined sense of smell ever. He can suddenly smell things that are miles away. During the same time, a spate of car robberies in the city has the residents of his society worried. One day, a car in their society gets stolen, and Sunny, with some help from his buddies, takes it upon himself to track down the car thief.

What's hot:

Amole Gupte understands the world of children and presents it well. He brings out the best from the child actors. Khushmeet is the highlight of the film, and his pals are adorable too. Amole doesn't aim for over-the-top action sequences or dramatic moments. The supporting cast - Surekha Sikri (as the grandmother) and Manmeet Singh (as the father) provide able support. Putul Guha as Sushmita Mukherjee's henpecked husband is well cast. Some scenes are touching like the one where Adil tries to explain to his friend the correct facial expressions to go with the smell of objects like an orange or a rose. The bit about people in the neighbourhood using his skills for some personal snooping is fun too. And while the story is about a young detective's beginning, at its crux is the thought of forgiving others and giving them a second chance - qualities that are inherently more in kids than adults.

What's not:

The movie goes a bit off track in the second half. The superpowers that the protagonist has hardly been made use in the climax. While it's necessary to keep things simple for a movie aimed at kids, this film is a bit inconsistent. Often the kids come across as mature individuals, while the adults come across as childish and caricaturish. Gupte's cameo doesn't add anything. Though it's a short movie, the second half feels long. The movie lacks the quality to tugs at your heartstrings like his earlier works - Stanley Ka Dabba and Hawaa Hawaai.

What to do:

Movies appropriate for kids are few in B-Town and this is good opportunity to get a peek into their real world. But be patient with the film, like one is with children.

Rating: **1/2