JOJO, the new Gujarati App comes up with this superlative movie "Vanilla Ice Cream" that deserves to be watched and thought about by members of any Indian joint family. It is rare that a Gujarati movie or any Indian movie reaches Academy height, no less.
Vanilla Ice Cream is a story that can take place in any middle class urban joint family. There is an old grandfather suffering from dementia. There is this young newly love-married couple Varun and Komal, played by popular actor Malhar Thakkar and (new comer?) Yukti Randeria, and father-in-law Ashvin played by Archan Trivedi and Mother-in-law Snehaben played by versatile Vandana Pathak. The story revolves round the usual mother-in-law daughter-in-law conflicts especially when daughter-in-law smokes and is a professional working woman. The father -in-law trying to pacify and prevent the situations from blowing up and family breaking down.
A most powerful story, a crisp and to the point script, virtuoso performances by the vetaran Vandana Pathak, Malhar, Archan Trivedi and fresh face and sweet Yukti takes the movie to a winning height aided by cinematography in close confine of a house in the pols (by-lanes) of old Ahmedabad and pleasing but not overpowering music makes Venilla Ice Cream a film that deserves to be an entry in any film festival not the least Oscar. (Why? Cannot a Gujarati Indian film deserve a seat at the Dolby Theatre?)
Let the emotions have free flow as you watch Venilla Ice Cream and let it drip.
Would I have accorded it a perfect 10? I debated it but the over extension by ten minute to where the film should have ended and let the viewer ruminate takes away a point. Too harsh? May be.
And finally, the Writer Director Preet, (Preet who?), please stand tall at the Dolby.
