'Sikander' fails to make an impact
Set in conflict-torn Kashmir, 14-year-old Sikandar (Parzaan Dastur) is a football-obsessed orphan whose life changes when he finds a gun.
Sikandar
Cast: Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur, Sanjay Suri
Director: Piyush Jha
Rating: ** 1/2
The film opens with a bang as writer-director Piyush Jha moves away from comedy (he earlier made Chalo America and The King of Bollywood) towards a dramatic thriller.
Set in conflict-torn Kashmir, 14-year-old Sikandar (Parzaan Dastur) is a football-obsessed orphan whose life changes when he finds a gun. He is befriended by Nasreen (Ayesha Kapur), a young girl, who becomes his guide and confidant even as the gun becomes an inextricable part of his being, instilling in him a false sense of bravado.
As we see Sikandar’s transformation on one side, alongside the director shows militant forces at work as well as the influence of the army, maneuverings of politicians and power of religious leaders. The children, we realise by and by, are merely pawns in a complex, ugly and dangerous game.
As far as the story goes, Sikandar sounds good, however, the film falters on execution. The jarring and overused background score, uneven performances, plodding pace and emotional disconnect which make the experience hard work.
Parzaan pitches in with the most enthusiastic and sincere performance; Sanjay Suri and R Madhavan serve their purpose as catalysts well; Arunoday Singh is not given enough scope to prove his abilities; Ayesha Kapur looks the part but lacks the requisite shades to pull off a tough part.
The effort is earnest, there are indeed a few unexpected twists, but the result is not convincing enough. Maybe Jha will be fourth time lucky
Cast: Parzaan Dastur, Ayesha Kapur, Sanjay Suri
Director: Piyush Jha
Rating: ** 1/2
The film opens with a bang as writer-director Piyush Jha moves away from comedy (he earlier made Chalo America and The King of Bollywood) towards a dramatic thriller.
Set in conflict-torn Kashmir, 14-year-old Sikandar (Parzaan Dastur) is a football-obsessed orphan whose life changes when he finds a gun. He is befriended by Nasreen (Ayesha Kapur), a young girl, who becomes his guide and confidant even as the gun becomes an inextricable part of his being, instilling in him a false sense of bravado.
As we see Sikandar’s transformation on one side, alongside the director shows militant forces at work as well as the influence of the army, maneuverings of politicians and power of religious leaders. The children, we realise by and by, are merely pawns in a complex, ugly and dangerous game.
As far as the story goes, Sikandar sounds good, however, the film falters on execution. The jarring and overused background score, uneven performances, plodding pace and emotional disconnect which make the experience hard work.
Parzaan pitches in with the most enthusiastic and sincere performance; Sanjay Suri and R Madhavan serve their purpose as catalysts well; Arunoday Singh is not given enough scope to prove his abilities; Ayesha Kapur looks the part but lacks the requisite shades to pull off a tough part.
The effort is earnest, there are indeed a few unexpected twists, but the result is not convincing enough. Maybe Jha will be fourth time lucky