Review: 'Satrangee Parachute' is colourless and shallow

Film: Satrangee Parachute (U)
Director: Vineet Khetrapal
Cast: Siddhartha Sanghani, Rajvi Suchak, Rupali Ganguli, Zakir Hussain, Sanjay Mishra, Kay Kay Menon and others
Rating: *1/2

When you set out for a kiddo movie, you know what to expect — children as major characters, an uncomplicated storyline, fantasy fiction, to name a few things. But Satrangee Parachute takes your expectations to a new low, for it is unfit for any age group.

The film is too knotty for kids to comprehend, too wimpy for adults' interest, and too unglamorous and sex-less to hold the attention of those in between.
 
The film is set in the scenic town of Nainital, and director Khetrapal narrates the story of Pappu (Siddhartha), a gifted little boy who wants to run away from home to explore Mumbai ‘shehar’.

His best friend Kuhu (Rajvi) is visually impaired and has a dream — to fly in a parachute. So our dear boy talks his friends into it and the gang flees to Mumbai to buy a parachute leaving the parents distraught.

Up to this point, the film introduces no complications whatsoever. But impracticality shows its ugly face when the kids’ trip to Mumbai coincides with a potential terror attack.

Pappu overhears a terrorist say on the telephone ‘bacche parachute se utar gaye hain’ and the kids follow him and his horde in the hope that they would help them buy parachutes.

When intercepted by an anti-terrorism squad officer, played briefly but impeccably by Menon, the kids spill out the story and, quite predictably, the 26/11-like terror attempt is foiled. But what awaits them back home — reward or reprimand — is not something to be thrilled about.

While the child actors and adults offer satisfactory performances, sadly they are not enough to salvage the film. The soundtrack and lyrics are not bad either.

The quaint cinematography (Soumik Haldar weaves magic with the camera by capturing the essence of Nainital) and lucid plot (minus the terrorism part) remind you of bedtime stories from books that contained big, fascinating pictures.

Ganguli and Hussain (Pappu’s parents) and Mishra (one of the children's fathers) are all natural and effortless in simulating emotions and the kids are a delight to watch, especially Rajvi, who can make you go ‘awww’ with her child-like innocence.

Despite all this, boredom is the feeling that will remain with you throughout the film. Satrangee Parachute will not give you your dose of entertainment this weekend.