Udaan

Ohh Yeah ! It is that good. It is one of the couples of Hindi movies that has managed to move me. Very simple yet heavy on its contents.

After seeing it on many Best of 2010 list, I had to see it. And after watching it has to review it. This very ordinary story stays with you even after hours of watching it. "Udaan" is a story of a boy, who like everyone else dreams and like almost everyone else he had to decided and step up to the hurdle before him. It is also a story of a father who like many tries his best to brought up two kids but fails. Its characters are not heroes or villains.

The performances are pitch perfect. Ronit Roy does it so amazingly that you wonder if his talents were wasted on television. Both kids are so refreshing. The biggest achievement of the film was that you just don't pity the father but kind of understand his actions.

it is a journey that will make you run for your dreams and love ones. Do not miss this fantastic piece of arts.

Udaan (2010)

On the main level this is a gripping, realistic, deeply moving story of a sensitive boy with an abusive father growing up in a culturally complex India. This is the main point here, and the reason to see it. The leading part played by this boy, Rohan, is a magnificent acting debut for Rajat Barmecha. He was twenty playing a seventeen year old schoolboy, but he's convincing, and nuanced, with both great emotional vulnerability and flashes of rebellion and fire.

The other level to consider from this movie is as a cultural lens. I write from the U.S. and know only what I see from here, but it seems like a coming of age movie with the tinges of generation gap and young rebellion seen blossoming (in the movies and in life) here in the 1960s and 70s. Rohan's father is "old school" in that he's tough on his son, thinking the son needs discipline and hard work to grow up and be functional. The boy though is a writer at heart (there are several scenes where he recites poems or tells stories and they are spellbinding, if brief), and the father won't hear of that. Raising Rohan without a mother seems to give him so leniency for his stubbornness, but not for his violence, and Rohan, somehow, must react.

The third character of note is not a girl--a nice change from many young men growing up stories--but a little half-brother who Rohan ends up befriend and ultimately kind of mentoring. The little one is super cute and delicate, and the three males with all their problems and conflicts make for a rich, intense interplay.

The other cultural aspect (besides how young people might be seeing their morality shift from their parents and grandparents) for an outsider is to see contemporary India in a rather true, ordinary way. I mean, "Slumdog Millionaire" was amazing and sensational in its own way, but it pushed buttons and pushed boundaries. This movies stays within boundaries to that being edgy isn't interfering with the reality of the story and all its successive stages.

It's really great stuff overall. The one thing that will seem odd, maybe, to some is the inspirational feel-good music with lyrics written for the film. It's almost saccharine it's so idealistic, but then, it's probably when every struggling 16 year old in Mumbai or New Delhi or wherever needs to hear. That part of the movie is not for an outsider at all, which is okay. I think people see the American classic "The Graduate" and have similar problems with the coming of age problems being mid-1960s in flavor, and the music having a pretty tenor not always up a contemporary alley.

So see Udaan for what it is. Rooted in expert and conventional filmmaking and storytelling, but powerful stuff.

With "Udaan", director Vikramditya Motwane has proved that he is here to stay and be the 'change' that we are all desperately seeking. "Udaan" is so brilliantly written, directed and acted that it just mesmerizes you with its story telling. Rohan's journey after being expelled from boarding school in the city of Jamshedpur working under his tyrant father and the way his character evolves simply touches your heart. Little bit of one liners shared between Rohan and his friends stay with you. Rohan's younger step brother is absolutely fabulous and even if he spoke barely few dialogues in the movie, he made an impact by his sly little demeanors. Character of ultra strict father played by Ronit Roy is so well crafted and acted that it is very much believable. To top it all, amazing music from Amit Trivedi gels so well into the movie that it lifts the spirits up by tons. At the end, kudos to the whole team for delivering such a lovely work.

Vikramaditya Motwane's 'Udaan' is a film, that lingers your memory, and gives you the hope to live your dreams. The film has everything going for it, it has a touching story, proficient performances, hummable music & striking direction. It's A Winner All The Way!

Rajat Barmecha stars as Rohan, who, after being abandoned for eight straight years in boarding school, returns to the industrial city of Jamshedpur and finds himself closeted with an authoritarian father and a younger half brother who he didn't even know existed.

'Udaan' is an inspiring story. Screenplay by Motwane & Anurag Kashyap is brilliant. Their protagonist, is not a passive one, he has a goal, that of becoming a writer, which has been stabbed by his authoritarian father. The Screenplay allows it's Hero to get courage in himself. It starts superbly, and continues it's momentum to the end.

Motwane's direction is great as well. The Cinematography is able. Amit Trivedi's Music is hummable. The Editing is killer.

Performance-Wise: Rajat Barmecha is wonderful. The youngster lives his character each moment. Ronit Roy as the authoritarian father, is electrifying. The actor performs like never before! Aayan Boradia is a wonder child. A dependable actor! Ram Kapoor as the polite & understanding uncle, is lovable. Manjot Singh appears fictitious.

On the whole, as my summary says, One Of The Finest Films Of 2010! Strongly Reccmended!

For some reason I have been postponing watching 'Udaan' until finally I watched it last night. I figured, why shouldn't it be the first film I watch this year? I had only heard many good things about it but even then it surpassed my expectations. 'Udaan' is one of those rare Indian films that scores high on every component of filmmaking, be it, direction, writing, cinematography, casting, score... It looks authentic and it feels honest.

What particularly stands out about 'Udaan' is how true to life it is and at the same time it's not a documentary style film but one with a great big heart that tells an inspiring story of a teenager fighting for his dream to become the man he aspires to. Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap have done an outstanding job in the writing department. It's very detailed without being showy, poetic without being operatic, subtle without being too restrained and poignant without being preachy.

In addition, Motwane does a phenomenal job translating the words from paper to screen. The narrative style is superb and remains consistent throughout. The characters are very human and easily recognizable mostly because of how the relationships are depicted, with sincerity.

Shetty's cinematography works in a subtle way. Every frame is photogenic but not to the point of looking like a postcard or being distracting. Trivedi's score is used very efficiently, never intrusive but rather contributing by echoing the mood of the sequences. Kalra's editing is solid as never does the pace feel uneven nor does the film lose its focus at any point.

Now coming to the performances, each and every actor's portrayal is genuine. Starting with newcomer Rajat Barmecha who is spot on as he looks the part and acts sublime. Ronit Roy finally gets a role that showcases his previously unknown talent. This is definitely a breakthrough performance for the actor who's been in movies for almost two years. While his portrayal of the authoritarian father is haunting one can also sympathize for him as he himself is a victim of abuse and he really does believe that he's doing the best for his sons and yet shows signs of regret at some of the wrong decisions. Ram Kapoor is equally convincing as the supportive light-hearted uncle who is the polar opposite of the quick tempered father. And of course, last but not least, there is young Aayan Boradia who delivers one of the most accurate performances of a child. It's amazing how, mostly through non-verbal gestures, he displays Arjun's innocence, loneliness, quiet suffering and longing with such precision

While most of the first act and second act of the film depicts Rohan and Arjun's quiet suffering, the final act is excellently cathartic. I don't mean cathartic in the sense that events take an explosive turn that involves loud confrontations. Here it's rather matter-of-factly but at the same time energetic, invigorating and symbolic. Even though I was expecting what Rohan would eventually do for himself to escape his father's imprisonment, there are some precious little surprises that happen along the way, making 'Udaan' a one-of-a-kind gem.

'Udaan' is a celebration of the human spirit. I'm very glad I picked this movie to start the year.