Saanghuro

The 2013 Nepali film Saanghuro (translating to "Narrow") delves into the harsh realities of poverty and societal pressures faced by a lower-middle-class family residing in an urban slum in Kathmandu. The narrative revolves around Krishna, a newspaper delivery boy, and his mother, a street sweeper. Their lives take a significant turn when Krishna falls in love with Kamala, a domestic worker employed by a wealthy family.

The film masterfully portrays the challenges faced by the couple as they navigate their relationship and societal expectations. Their marriage is met with financial constraints and the constant presence of Krishna's mother in their shared living space, creating a sense of confinement and intimacy. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for survival in a society marked by stark economic disparities.

Saanghuro garnered critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of slum life, powerful performances by the cast, and thought-provoking exploration of social issues. It is considered a landmark film in Nepali cinema, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles of marginalized communities.

The film depicts the mental stigma of a newly wed couple in a riverside slum, who need to share a common room with their ailing mother hit by a car and their alcoholic father. I thought it was about the sexual frustration of the newly wed couple, which in itself was a noble concept to present. But by the end I felt privacy isn't much of a deal for the slum dwellers who struggle for their existence. A roof is what matters to them than the privacy.

The film portrays the harrowing account of these slum dwellers fending for themselves against the social etiquettes. The film is unpleasant and so is the slum life. Apart the obscure ending, the film feels natural and never overdone with few remarkable performances. The film makes an uncomfortable watch and is to stay in your mind for several days.

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 4.

What worked: The idea of portraying the story of a slum family is a very nice concept, and widely done throughout the world. This movie deserves appreciation for doing the same. The aspect of movie that stood out was the cinematography, which is par and have captured the slum culture beautifully. It's a well acted movie and the dialogues are well inclined with the tone of the movie. The movie is an attempt to capture the story of people living in slum. Its not a happy story after all. It's heartbreaking at times, disturbing and emotional at other times, making the overall movie viewing experience as eye opening and informative. What did not work: Firstly I appreciate the movie showing the intimate scenes. A long scene was enough to narrate the idea of the intimacy but somewhere down the line I found it repetitive and overly done multiple times. If one of those many scenes were included it would have been a great shot. Also, the movie ends with a sad note which is not a bad thing in a movie but the overall mood was so miserable it made me feel kind of miserable and pitiful. The movie was predictable at times and disturbing at other times. I would have loved it more if the final scenes were a bit suggestive or had an optimistic tone because this tone has been done multiple times in cinemas all over the world. Final verdict: recommended