User reviews

This film is the, I believe, true story of award-winning child artist Jerry (aka Baby Kusum), who was a boy forced to play girls' characters by his mother. The movie has been presented in such an abstract fashion, that it had me as confused as the protagonist for the majority of the time. However, looking at it from a bigger perspective, it is a very shocking and eye-opening exposition of how dark, tragic, and mortifying the life of Jerry and numerous other child artists victim to this practice must have become in regards to their sexual identity and orientation as they grew into adolescence. A well-made and intended film, but a bit too abstract, ghastly, and vulgar for me.

Writer director Chattopadhyay made an earlier attempt writing a subtle story in 'Dus Kahaniya - Rice plate'. This time he made a bold attempt in touching the darker side of glamorous cinema.

Story goes something like this, a young boy, Jerry (Johnny Bakshi) forced by his mother (Lillete Dubey) to dresses and act in movie as a girl child, Baby Kusum. Jerry grows up to become confused, schizophrenic, drug addict, etc. This movie is an attempt to depict agony of this boy through possibly a true story of baby Kusum.

Solid plot, strong characters and above average acting from leads are plus points. On the other side, over-abstract scenes, unnecessary use of bad language and glamor could have been surely avoided. At times, dialogs sounds are so vulgar instead of feeling pity for the boy, felt like laughing at the writer for adding abusive slangs in the movie just for hack of it. Lillete Dubey is the most convincing character here, she played the bad mother to perfection. Bipasa Basu played Jerry's hallucination and she is definitely not cut out for this kind of roles.

Take away –A wasted opportunity to make a big impact

Pankh tackles with many issues whether it be of ones fall from fame or the struggles to attain it again, self conflict-ion, illicit drug use, psychological trauma and physical abuse as a child or rather it be the workings of the backstage and it's so called "solicit process of casting". It certainly gives it all with a vary of illustrious style which kinda remained me of the movie "Flexing with Monty". The direction and story both very good and I'll be looking forward to a Sudipto Chattopadhyay film for sure.

A fine cast assembled. Lillete Dubey (Mary) one of the best performances in the movie. Maradona Rebello (Jerry) had to fill quite the shoes when portraying such a confound protagonist and does a commendable job doing so, the same could be said for his child counterpart, thanks to great make-up i suppose. Bipasha Basu the perfect peach to pick as the neurotic fantasy of Jerry. Amit Purohit and Sanjeeda Sheikh both were very truthful to their roles. Others add a good presences to the environment of it all.

At the end of it all. This is one of those movies which isn't for anyone who get's baffled with convoluted plots or characters but for those who enjoy such a compendium would mostly love it. May be one day Pankh could be referred to as a cult classic.

For those who are new to such a visual language, should just watch it with an open mind and for what it is. Don't make assumptions halfway through or you will be saying something like "Did Bipasha Basu walk on the set straight out of a fashion show or something".

The movie has a very strong subject which rotates around a boy who is being forced by her mother to play a girl in movies.The director who tries to play with the sexual identity of the human race, suffers a great jolt as ends up confusing everyone. The protagonist is besotted by a stunning looking actress and even fantasizes about her. The problem in the movie lies in the script and screenplay. The movie which could have been used to revoke the back dated and anti human thoughts of the society fails miserably. It starts on a high note but ones it goes down it could not move up again int the 2 hours movie. But the real power of the movie is its acting. maradona impresses in the 1st movies only, but at some plays he is expressionless but that is for a very short time, other characters are also good. yet the powerhouse of the movie is hot Bengali babes who at every instant enjoys her role. she is so natural and performs her job with ease.So at the end of the movie u are satisfied.

~ Innovative script, i kept wondering while watching movie what must have been going on in the cru's minds when they were filming all this.how much each character and staff on sets would have understood the plot,and kudos to director for bringing out performances from the cast irrespective of degree and extent of their comprehension towards character. I shall say nicely done.., i have especially no words for brilliant performance by Mahesh Manjarekar in such a small but probably his best role.Ronit Roy is such a good but wasted actor.., recently saw "udaan", he shines there too. Once upon a time a Hindi movie freak,I have noticed that since over 6 years now, i am not able to comfortably see the so predictable and almost repetitive or non amusing Hindi cinema.since Mukul S an-and died and Rajiv rai stopped making films, as if there is nothing to see now, except Rajkumar santoshi,Anurag kashyap,a few genuines by RGV, & handful of other makers who pop-up with some good cinema in between:Most of the time we are made to eat the sheer non or half talented arrogant and self propagandizing work of likes of Aamir khan,Karen johar, etc. in the name of good cinema.

Nice to see more players are coming up to "do their own thing".