Road, Movie Review

Cast: Satish Kaushik, Abhay Deol, Mohammad Faisal, Tannishtha Chatterjee

Director: Dev Benegal

Producer: Ross Katz, Susan B Landau

Rating: **
 
Let me narrate this small incident to unfold to you what I have been trying to figure out about ‘Road, Movie’ – one of the most hyped movies of recent times. A group of critics were discussing the movie and trying to understand it better. Someone remarks, “It’s a typical festival film. People abroad will like it!” The next question that popped up was why make it in Hindi at all then and call it a Hindi movie? I am still trying to figure an answer to that one. ‘Road, Movie’ leaves you speechless because it is hard to comprehend what the filmmaker intended to say!
 
The story is essentially about a young guy Vishnu (Abhay Deol). His father makes and sells oil but Vishnu wants to do something else. He has no particular aim though and grabs a chance that he gets to deliver a truck with a cinema projector and lots of films at some place that would keep him away from home for some time. In his journey he picks up three more people – a young kid, an older man and a girl. Each of these characters have their own pursuits in life, and as they travel together through the never-ending deserts they impart their love and knowledge to Vishnu.
 
‘Road, Movie’ starts out really well. But it stumbles with introduction of every new character – so much that it reaches heights of abstract. The young kid who sells coffee at a road side stall and has probably never had a proper house to stay in talks about US coffee shop chain Starbucks – a name most Indians may not have heard of. Showing films, escaping from the clutches of the police and then selling oil for water makes up for good satire. But the film somewhere deviates from transforming Vishnu’s character to showing the effect of cinema on people. And as the end sets in you are yet to understand what made Vishnu change! There is also a ‘mela’ scene which leaves too many questions unanswered.
 
Technically ‘Road, Movie’ is brilliant. It almost looks like a cinematography tutorial as the camera rolls over panoramic landscapes. The background music and editing is very good. Also, the performances leave a mark. This is clearly Satish Kaushik’s movie as he shines in a completely different avatar. Young Mohammad Faizal is superb and so is Tannishtha. Abhay Deol is just right. 
 
Dev Benegal had earlier made two movies – ‘English August’ and ‘Split Wide Open’. Both were a part of the initial crossover brigade but never made anywhere at the box office. And it is unlikely that ‘Road, Movie’ will change anything for him. This one is filled with enjoyable moments and great dialogues but does not make a dime of sense overall. It is really hard to judge what the initial idea was. Not too appealing!