Wednesday, April 25, 2018

October

Subtle.....nuanced.....restrained

It's so under the surface, yet so raw and real ...that it touches you somewhere deep within. A space of emotions that we rarely get to touch.


Hard to call it a love story....it's way more than that. While it is about love.....unconditional...undefined...unsaid, a relationship of a different kind, it's also as much an internal story. About finding that one thing that defines you notwithstanding anything else in life. Most times, life interferes. A movie that tells you it needn't.

Shoojit Sircar, also brought Delhi to life. It comes to life like a character in the film, early winter mornings, empty streets, light breeze, drifting fog...moving into the hustle and bustle of a regular day.....traffic snarls, smog.

Symbolizing October, an autumn, one where time seems to standstill, yet is transformational for Dan (Varun Dhawan), one in which he goes from being a quiet, drifting, kind of rebellious student,  to a man, gentle, kind, strong, one who knows exactly what he wants.

The relationship is with Shiuli (Banita Sandhu) a fellow student in the hotal internship, named after the Parijatam flower, a core element in the movie. (the flowers a personal favorite too).

The story plays out in two places, one the backend of a hotel, a perspective not often available. And  two in an ICU. So real it can't help but evoke our own such experience, and making us part of the story.

Varun Dhawan, Banita Sandhu and Geetanjali Rao were all outstanding in their performances. In fact I heard there was one scene, spoken entirely through the eyes which Shoojit Sircar had them rehearse three months for.

Not going into story as it could have spoilers for those who'd like to watch. And as said by Shoojit himself "October is not fast food, you need to be calm and composed to go through the film".

Elemental, Deep and Beautiful.

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