Six short films were slated for the 10 a.m. slot on 28 September at the ongoing IXth Jagran Film Festival Mumbai. When one plans to go for short films, one is prepared to watch an eclectic mix of sharp, sensitive, quirky or the downright mundane. The lot of six that I watched today had all that and more. But personally I like movies that leave me with a positive, warm afterglow after they end. Perhaps that's why I have always loved Ray's movies. Anyway, coming to the movie I wanted to talk about, Itwar. The protagonist, wonderfully essayed by Kumud Mishra could be a typical father in any Indian middle class home. You see him and a smile comes to your face, as you note striking similarities with your own father or that neighbourhood uncle, a character who is just about so stressed that he doesn't find joy in anything, ready to snap at anyone or everyone. His chemistry or lack of it, with his teenage son is hilarious to be honest. The wife, competently played by Lubna is another typical Indian homemaker, patiently playing the referee in the ego fights between the father and the son. As he goes on ranting about everything in life, you wonder if there would be a dark end to the story, so much so, that the climax catches you totally by surprise. Dis that really happen, you ask yourself incredulously! And the song that has been slipped in quite unobtrusively by the director at the start of the ending credits, is absolutely genius. Penned by Anant and sung by the ever effervescent Udit Narayan, it just sums up the vision of the writer, 'man bhala to sab bhala...'! Full credit to the writer/director Rahul Srivastava who has been quite brilliant in etching a perfect portrait of the mindset of a typical Indian middle class family. Small surprise that among the six films that were watched by the rather sparse audience, Itwar was the only one that elicited spontaneous applause.
