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What is it all about?
Yes, it defines the routine Bollywood norms; yes it’s not the normal cinema of yore but does it strikes any chord? The answer is no.
Dev Benegal’s ‘Road, Movie’ is a watery, oily, escape from the cinema of yore which even fails to impress the arty cores.
As everybody knows that there is no thesis or theory in how to shoot your cinema but there is a theory and explanation required for a compelling cinema; be it for the masses or the classes. A good cinema is never left as an incomplete story regardless of whatever mystery the helmer creates.
The problem with Dev Benegal’s ‘Road, Movie’ is that even though it has the prodigious assistance of Cinematographer Michel Amathieu, Editor Yaniv Dabach, Amba Sanyal’s costumes, Vikram Joglekar’s sound and of course sincere and strong dedication from Abhay Deol, Satish Kaushik, new entrant Tannishtha Chatterjee and Mohammed Faisal Usmani - still the movie doesn’t give you the ‘kick’ required in such adventurous trip like ‘The Passenger’ or ‘Easy Rider’ which made history in the American artistic independent cinema.
What could have been a seminal film of this year turns into a leftover coming from the head and mindset of those cross culture filmmakers who struggle to find their cinematic roots.
The Story…….of course
Vishnu (Abhay Deol) a restless young man itches to escape his father's faltering hair oil business. An old truck beckons, which Vishnu sees as his ticket to freedom. As he sets off across the harsh terrain of desert India, he discovers he's not merely transporting a battered vehicle, but an old touring cinema.
Along the way, Vishnu reluctantly picks up a young runaway (Mohammed Faizal Usmani), a wandering old entertainer (Satish Kaushik) and a gypsy woman (Tannishtha Chatterjee). Together they roam in the barren land, searching for water and an elusive fair. The journey turns dire when they are waylaid by corrupt cops and a notorious water lord.
What to look out for?
There are interesting points in the film like the way Abhay deals with the water gang with the help of his ‘atma’ brand oil. Satish oiling the projector with hair oil, villagers watching cinema on wheels are wonderful moments.
The movie has the prodigious assistance of Cinematographer Michel Amathieu, Editor Yaniv Dabach, Amba Sanyal’s costumes, Vikram Joglekar’s sound and of course sincere and strong dedication from Abhay Deol, Satish Kaushik, new entrant Tannishtha Chatterjee and Mohammed Faisal Usmani as the boy.
What Not? ‘Road, Movie seems to be aimed at young-minded people aka modern day cowboys who shoot the routine cinema of yore and try to test the boundaries of liberal thinking Bollywood cinema circa but sadly the makers fail to understand in their dream that all this scrupulously real and surreal cinematic experiment requires the understanding of the counter-culture movement that revolve around the premise and in the end the movie appears as an incomplete naïve attempt.
Sometimes the movie gives you a dark feel which is not exactly the genre of the film. No comments on the remix of the song “Sar Jo Tera Chakraye” from Guru Dutt’s classic ‘Pyaasa’ but the movie though doesn’t gives you a headache but it definitely ‘Dubaos your dil’ meaning disappoints you in the after an interesting start.
Recommended: For those who feel proud to be called pseudo or confused cinegoers.
Rating **
[Rating * Yuck. ** Oh No. *** Hmmm. Well Done. **** Well done. Superb. ***** Priceless.] | 
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