Brilliance is not a flash in the pan. It is an illumination that blinds the inquisitive eye and feels indifferent to the casual observer.
I watched Budhia SIngh- Born to Run helplessly since, being an Odia, I carried too much bias walking in to the theater. I was there when the real Budhia ran, I was there when the real Biranchi Das obscured from the scene, I was also there when the fanatic devotees shouted Jay Jagannath- for this isn't a one-off story, it's very much the social fabric of my beloved Odisha.
The sports hostel scene between Biranchi and Budhia, the scene between Sukanti and the antagonist where he nudges a bowl just enough to make the leaking water draw her attention, the scene where Biranchi rushes out of the medical unit carrying the barely conscious Budhia after his Puri-BBSR run- these stretches of reel bordered on Guru Dutt, rivalled perhaps only by Anurag Kashyap in the present lot and RGV or Mani in the near past........ Bravo!
Just as you are about to take the plunge into cinematic inebriation, the novice surfaces and draws you out of your reveries. You are then reminded that this movie has been categorised as a Children's film with good reason. Perhaps it deserves a screening elsewhere in more receptive audiences.
Casting and characterisation are outstanding. The tightly woven story and the wisely limited reel-length leaves very little scope for Bollywood humour, song-dance routines, violence and romance. Yet, trust me when I say that all are present in good measure- a tribute to direction and acting genius.
Tilottama Shome stands out- my pick for the best actor (female) in a supporting role. She haunts with her minute-long looks, not a word escaping her lips. Her scenes with the antagonist leave you guessing. Shruti Marathe aptly sketches complaint, heart-ache, grief and melancholy- in that order as the movie progresses. Mayur Patole does what he seems to be doing best- being himself. Gajraj Rao invokes acidic hatred, just what the role calls for.
Manoj Bajpayee, however, needs special mention. Not only is Manoj uncharacteristically restrained in his portrayal, he underplays the mercurial coach by a margin. Biranchi Das isn't alive, hence the scope for imagination in the enactment of Manoj otherwise he would have known that Biranchi could have been more than ruthless- may be his task demanded him to be.
Kudos to the team for speaking Hindi the way an Odia would. Thanks to all the actors for respecting the community and not just go about making a mockery of Hindi (like Bollywood has so often done with Tamil accent, Bengali accent or Punjabi accent). We are native speakers of Odia and will invariably fumble with Hindi- just what is shown by the seasoned actors who are at home with Hindi in reality.
My pick for India's entry to Oscars in 2016-17, albeit, in the documentary segment.
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