Film: For Real (U)Director: Sona JainCast: Sarita Choudhury, Adil Hussain, Zoya S Hassan, Sriharsh Sharma Churai, Sameer DharmadhikariRating: **

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A heart-wrenching account of marital discord, For Real sees the problems of countless modern nuclear families through the eyes of a child.

Instances of children becoming casualties of their parents’ career and professional aspirations are not uncommon. In For Real, everybody involved is looking for something more from life. Father Dr Ravi Shukla (Hussain) is looking for better prospects as head of the family, London-returned mother Priya (Choudhury) wants to revive her music career, and central character Shruti (Zoya) is looking for her real mother who she thinks has been sent off to the Orion galaxy while the mother at home is an alien who has taken her place.

The four-year-old Shruti is convinced of her mother’s alien nature and dreams of meeting her “real” mother in a field. Her brother Paras (Sharma Churai) fuels this fantasy. Debutante director Sona Jain does a commendable job of bringing out the best in the two children, their relationship with each other and also with the parents. Zoya won the best actress award at the Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore last year, a well-deserved honour for a character who speaks through her eyes and displays naïve yet elaborate emotions. Choudhury and Hussain as the parents do a good job, while Dharmadhikari as the friend and shrink of the family is effective.

The film progresses at a sluggish pace, probably an attempt to showcase the sensitivity of the subject. The intent is sincere, but the gravity of the situation just does not seem convincing. Chasing dreams has been the priority of head-strong individuals, and many do find the middle path between family life and career. Walking out on your family to revive your career or 'find yourself' seems like a flimsy reason.

For Real is not visually appealing, with lopsided lighting distracting the viewer every now and then. Some scenes seem to become brighter suddenly. The music by renowned tabla maestro Zakir Hussain is a saving grace. The film, made in English, also fails to connect with the viewer because upper-middle-class Delhiites (including the domestic help) speaking in chaste English looks thoroughly vain.

Dealing with a serious subject like domestic discord and marital dissension, For Real is not an easy watch.