Review by Saswat Pattanayak
Fish Eye Network Productions
Starring: Lucky Ali, Gauri Karnik, Simone Singh, Achint Kaur, Ehsan Khan, Harsh Vasishth, Yashoodhan Bal and Divya Dutta
Music: M.M.Kreem
Lyrics: Nida Fazli
Editing-Hemanti Sarkar
Cinematography: Nirmal Jani
Producer: Rangita Pritish Nandy
Writer and Director: Tanuja Chandra
Sur is an unusual movie. It’s a wise juxtaposition of both art and commercial cinematic values. There are clearly no dividing lines. Just as the story, the complexity of perceived categories within cinema genres are to be accepted here, not opposed.
It’s not supported by the honky-dory pairs of well-known actors. Indeed the main role is enacted by a playback singer of little eminence. The leading actress, too, is introduced to the audience here. Music by Kreem is experimental and theme of the movie challenging.
Making the unusual really interesting is the hallmark of an accomplished director. And the risk is well taken by Tanuja Chandra in making Sur, the only of its kind. Where, I think, the existential Camus meets with epic Mahabharata. On one end of spectrum I recall the Fall from disgrace whereas on another I find Vikram (Lucky Ali) like Dronacharya the famed teacher (of Mahabharata), suffering from inferiority feeling when his student Eklavya outshines him.
I must credit Chandra, a feminist director, for dealing with the characters with better subtlety and even more care. Especially for an Indian audience who indeed worship teachers on September 5 and don’t usually defy the words during rest of the year, demystifying the aura and replacing the halo around a great music teacher who runs his school of thought are what makes the theme challenging.
An accomplished teacher Vikram spots the talent of Tina (Gauri) and trains her at his school. Initially slow in learning, Tina soon outshines her teacher, gets offer from a company to perform and steals the show meant originally for her teacher. Unusually supportive Vikram, who once dreamt of passing on the trove to Tina, does exactly the opposite when she hogs the limelight.
For me, Sur is a movie of a lifetime, a compilation of human fallacies, compelling narration of an unforgiving conscience. The script is authored well, not by weighing words, but with flowing words. Not lifeless assumptions, but vivacious and sometime pinching truths. It made me feel the stomach. If the world’s a stage, we all are only humans. In life, on few occasions, I could compromise on the same principles, which lay the foundation for my life to be meaningful. I could be the victor with joys and then vanquish the joys. If I like playing a part in the movies, then while watching Sur, I could be Vikram. Have you felt that circumstances for pride are nevertheless often based on unflinching truths? And (although only at times) when as the truths of societal success grows bigger in image, the person reduces in persona?
Although Sur has artistic and instructional values in place, it turns the ethical value argument on its head. It questions ethics itself. For Vikram, music may be universal gift of God, yet its manifestation is his personal contribution. Its only when he acts God himself, he realizes the gift has slipped away to Tina.
Theme is resurrection, plot is symbolically harmonious, yet utterly disturbing. Reminds one of Priestley’s Inspector who quizzes us all if we are above board. Script is straightforward and rational, as could be summarized in one paragraph (you got over it already!). There are limitations on front of acting: Gauri needs to fine-tune lip-syncing the songs, though the vocals of this movie is just about fine.
Jani’s photography is remarkable in “Jaane Kya Dhoondti Hai” number and miserable during shots every time the music company officials approach the singer (which is monotonous, at the least). The cinematic punctuations could have been improved.
Overall, I must admit I have seen this film six times, last two for the sake of review! Young director Tanuja Chandra has another winner after Dushman.
Philosophical movies are not made everyday. But even if they were, this would still stand out.