Subtle, simple, sincere and stunning are four words I can use to describe 'Sparsh'. Any movie that involves names like Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Sai Paranjape, Gulzar and Om Puri are more than worth a watch. 'Sparsh' follows Anirudh, a blind young principal who runs a school for the blind. While he is dedicated to ensure that the students have the best possible future and tries his best to make things accessible to them, he is fiercely independent. He dislikes it when others offer a hand and he resents their pity. Anirudh thinks he is satisfied with life the way it is until he meets a beautiful widow named Kavita. The two strike a friendship and he offers her to teach the children at school. At first she is reluctant but soon gives in and finds a new purpose that has taken her away from the lonely life she had accepted to live.
Sai has yet again provided the viewer with another excellent example of the impact subtlety has on cinema. The execution of 'Sparsh' is very simple and efficiently. It's done so effectively as it echos the silence of the unsaid words between the characters. The director raises awareness regarding the educational facilities that are available for the blind and the shortcomings of these schools but he never does so by intruding on the story. It is all part of the story, a part of Anirudh and Kavita's life. Special mention goes to the music. There are only a few songs but the lyrics highlight great poetry.
The development of the bond between the characters, such as between the Aniruch and Kavita and between Kavita and the children is displayed beautifully. Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi are definitely one of best on-screen pairs in cinema. While the two have always worked terrifically together, perhaps 'Sparsh' is the movie that outstandingly showcases their undeniably magical chemistry. The rest of the cast, that includes Sudha Chopra and the students, provides fine support.
'Sparsh' has already become a favourite and I'll surely be watching it again. With raw simplicity as Paranjape has created cinematic magic, something very few directors have managed to display on screen.
