As mainstream cinema hit an all-time low, indie movies rose to the occasion. Instep takes a look.
2017 was an underwhelming year for Pakistani cinema, with most of the films failing to make a mark at the box office or otherwise. While we are still struggling to make things work with a history of merely 10 years post cinema revival, the situation isn’t any better across the border as well. Though the number of films released in India every year is much higher than in Pakistan, the overall turnout for Bollywood films remained low in 2017.
Mainstream filmmakers underestimated audience’s intellect while a myriad of independent films won hearts instead with their thematic courage and brilliant performances. Below are some of the critically acclaimed films from last year that left a strong mark on viewers.
Lipstick Under My Burkha
Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha is one of the most promising films to come out of Hindi cinema in 2017. It follows the story of four women who are constantly struggling with the patriarchal, misogynistic mindsets surrounding them. Among other themes, the film tackles the issue of marital rape, sexual yearnings of an older woman, the missteps that could result from innocence bred by gender segregation and the burden men place on themselves in the quest to dominate women socially and economically.
We rarely come across films that centre upon women and female bonding as its core subject and consequently welcome the effort. One of the most intricate balances that this delightful film offers is the portrayal of Ratna Pathak Shah’s character. She plays the role of an elderly business woman who is a widow and finds an escape from her loneliness in fiction and fantasies about a young man she meets.
Secret Superstar
Aamir Khan hardly fails to impress fans and viewers, be it as an actor or as a producer. For Secret Superstar he donned the role of producer and actor, and delivered on both fronts.
Written and directed by Advait Chandan, the film features the young and very talented Zaira Wasim, who debuted with Dangal last year alongside Khan. Khan plays a significant supporting role in Secret Superstar.
Wasim essays the role of a teenage girl who becomes a YouTube singing sensation and wants to break free from her father’s restrictions while her mother supports her in her endeavors. The young actor carries the entire film on her shoulders and proves that she is capable of pulling off diverse roles. While the film’s ending appears to be too optimistic, it does leave the viewer with the thought that one should never give up on their dreams.
Newton
Starring the incredible Rajkummar Rao, Amit V. Masurkar’s Newton is a creative piece of art that cleverly uses humour in a depressing setting while making strong statements on political issues. Set in tribal India, it revolves around a government official who is assigned to election duty in a remote Chhattisgarh forest. Despite tackling a serious subject, the film isn’t weepy but proves to be an entertaining ride and Rao, as the polling official in the lead, delivers a flawless performance.
A work of simplicity and creative genius, Newton extracts the maximum out of every single shot, every moment, every frame, every spoken word and every silence.
–With information from firstpost.com
