“Pataakha” Review: Quirky, innovative, and character based cinema!

Pataakha on the surface, is a simple story. It’s based off of a short film. However, this film is a perfect example of how one can successfully add complexity in terms of storytelling, to a concept that is actually quite simple. The credit goes to the screenplay and the direction. From the various scenes, to the believable characters, to the rustic backdrop, and then the overall pace, everything comes together to give us a film that stands apart. This is a film to appreciate for the moments and for the love of cinema. In fact, cinema is all about being engaged. If you are engaged and lost in the world of the story, it doesn’t matter how simple or complex it is.

The film doesn’t waste time to get to the point. That is in fact a beautiful part of the film. There are no filler scenes. Every scene has a purpose, either in terms of exposition, or in terms of moving the plot forward. So the story is this: Two sisters fight. The short story “Do Behnein” is six pages long, and starts only as Pataakha enters its second half. In short, both the sisters realize the true nature of their relationship only after marriage separates them. Bhardwaj turns these warring sisters into a metaphor for India and Pakistan, two countries that despise each other. It is an unsubtle analogy, but it works. The chemistry between these characters is what makes this film interesting.

The screenplay, like already mentioned, is tight. It is quirky and also gives us a feeling of spontaneity, as if the actors were given the space to add their own vibe to the characters. Either that, or the director has successful given a very natural and chaotic feel to the entire film. Either way it works, especially for this type of film. Vishal Bhardwaj shows a few signs of his ‘Shakespeake’ obsession with this film as well, in the way that he uses poetry, symbolism and metaphors. In fact the film is narrated by a character who reminds us of every narrator in a Shakespeare play. The cinematography and editing is also top notch. Another strength is the acting by everyone. This film lies on the shoulders of Sanya Malhotra and Radhika Madan, and both of them are tremendous. Vijay Raaz as the father proves that he is an extremely underrated actor. Sunil Grover is affective.

‘Pataakha’ has the trademark Vishal Bardwaj style. Only few filmmakers have a trademark style, but those few are amongst the best filmmakers. ‘Pataakha’ is definitely a film to watch if you are into quirky, innovative, and character based cinema. Go for it!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars