Directed by Anil Sharma, Vanvaas is a heart wrenching tale of family relationships, parenthood and sacrifice, that captures the audiences with its storytelling from beginning to end.
The film stars Nana Patekar, Utkarsh Sharma, Simrat Kaur, Rajpal Yadhav in lead roles with an ensemble cast including Ashwini Kalsekar, Paritosh Tripathi, Kettan Singh, Hemant Kher, Bhakti Rathod, Snehiil Mehraa and Shruti Marathe.
Shot at the backdrop of Benaras, the film is indeed a feast to the eyes.The film has breathtaking cinematography which has tastefully captured the city's landscapes, ghats,streets and temple depicting its local flavour, costumes and dialect with equal precision.
The film takes you to a roller coaster ride of an educated old man (Baba) who is suffering from Dementia, played by Nana Patekar, who is abandoned on the banks of Ganga by his sons for their selfish reasons.He only remembers the name of his late wife Vimla ( Khushbu), and three sons Somu (Hemant Kher), Bablu (Kettan Singh) and Chutka (Paritosh Tripathi),and keeps telling everyone that he has lost his children in the city.
As he begins searching for his children, he encounter a pickpocket Veeru (
Utkarsh Sharma).While, they have initials spats, they share light moments with a local drink and become friends. Veeru vows to help this baba to reach his family, with no clue of his address, since he has lost his memory. Initially, Veeru performs this noble gesture for a personal reason as he wants to woo his girlfriend Beena (Simratt Kaur Randhawa) and ask her hand for marriage from her aunt Ashwini Kalsekar, who's a local dancer with whom Beena performs.
The narrative is masterfully crafted while each scene takes you through an emotional catharsis.
Nana Patekar has stolen the show as the lead actor, while you feel his pain and inner turmoil which breaks you in tears at many critical moments in the film. Eventually Veeru and Baba develop a very strong father-son bonding, which takes the film to a next level in the climax.
Technically speaking the film lacks finesse, as dubbing of dialogues don't sync at points.Although the film does makes a point in inculcating the right values in children as the Old man teaches his grand children to take care of their parents,irrespective of what they did to him.
The film portrayed well the sad impact of the west on the modern day Indian society with the rise of old age homes, where the younger generation is loosing the grip of emotional values and bonds with the parents.The film put forwards a sad real life situation, which makes the viewers think and take back a lesson on the contributions of our parents and what we owe to them. The Old Man as a parent gave his children the best of education and life, and even forgave and blessed them after being sent to exile in the real sense, but the children hardly realised his sacrifice.
Vanvaas is a complete entertainer which has all the necessary elements be it emotions, comedy, spirituality, and romance.Rajpal Yadav with his expert comic timing adds a pinch of comedy in the melancholic melodrama.
The music score of the film is another highlight, including an item number that captures the flavour of Benarasi mood so well even in its lyrics.The film's overall music and background score perfectly complements the mood of the film, elevating key moments.
A must watch film with children and family to inculcate the right values, which the film intends to do.
