Not Out

#NOTOUT - Indeed a soul winner!!!

Jeff Goldberg brings in a story from the minority to a larger community that still needs to grow when it comes to diminishing the discrimination.

The struggles of Siddhant and Rahul are real, the roles well essayed by Namit Khanna and Ashim Gulati. They make you feel their ordeal and help you connect with the characters they play. Magic of writing works and so does Jeffs direction, getting the right emotion and execution. The poetic touch penetrates the experience to a deeper philosophy, whilst sometimes you make a choice and at times you take responsibility and choose What is important empowering your own decision living for yourself than the society.

The film navigates well to the path from where it started leaving you with the pain of protagonist empathising you with the helplessness one suffers.

The only thing over the top was the signal chatter of Kiki and gang though an integral part yet doesn't really lands well.

A Jeff Goldberg Film is a three time Best LGBTQ+ film and five time Official Selection.

You can watch the trailer at the link below And the film is streaming now BookMyShow.

PK Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5🌟s.

Walking into the screening of 'Not Out' with absolutely no clue of the baseline or the essence of the movie in a room full of people that slowly appeared on the screen as the movie played to begin with showed how each character held their role to their hearts.

The title of the movie just hits base with every scene of the movie, be it with cricket, coming out of the closet, not getting caught with crime and various other social issues. As an audience you really get a sense of Why,What and How each character went through that particular period of their life and makes us understand Love in such a pure and simple way !

It's a Must watch movie and you'll understand once you do watch it !

The film is based in Mumbai. Love the way it started with a scene of what a typical afternoon looks like on the streets of Bandra.

The background score immediately gave me a sense that the movie was serious and something creepy is going to happen.

I found the movie a little slow initially as it takes a little time to build up. But as the plot becomes clearer I found myself getting more and more engaged.

Aashim Gulati's performance really does justice to his character in my opinion. He's in a dilemma caught between 2 lives and this has been depicted beautifully without over relying on the use of words or dialogues in general.

The series of events that unfold in the second half is where the action lies and I would say that the movie isn't really predictable. It even reminded me of the movie Shaitan a bit because it captures how an unfortunate incident can occur as a result of a youth's naivety.

By the end of the movie I felt quite grounded. The film left me moved. Such dilemmas as the one portrayed in the film is realistic and do exist in our society but they are mostly invisible and not spoken about. Which is what makes this film important. Kudos to the team for pulling it off, it wouldn't have been easy for sure!

-The film was shot mostly handheld, it makes it look lifelike and gives that eerie feeling throughout the film -Rahul's wife is talking to her mother in her mother tongue on the phone, difficult for a Non Indian director to give that direction, well done -Jeff is soo adorable in the movie, I had a smile every time he appeared on screen -Liked the inclusion of the characters who keep giving socio/political commentary, in those moments I completely used to forget I am watching a film and I felt as if I am there with them -The non linear screenplay really worked for me, kept me engaged and curious throughout -The exchange where he says "you're helping your guilt" was really well written -A part in the film that I won't disclose, the way it was shot and the lighting, made it really really disturbing.

The film "Not Out" stands apart from typical Bollywood movies. Unlike the constant push to watch or buy something, this movie doesn't sell anything-it's not commercial. Instead, it offers a filmmaker's vision, evoking emotions through visuals, camera movements, and impactful edits.

Although the beginning might feel slow and misleading, it all comes together in the end, leading to an emotional climax.

The film's climax hits hard. It's not just about winning or losing it's about the emotional stakes which you will be left reflecting on life, relationships, and the choices we make.

As you watch, you'll connect with each character and their unique journey. The film's strength lies in its screen presence and cinematography.