Shwaas (2004)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Sandeep Sawant

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This story is about how an old man tried to show his grandson the preciousness and beauty of life in a no win situation such as cancer. It is about keeping a positive attitude towards life.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Eye | Village | Doctor | Kathi Arts

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Arun Nalawade	...	Keshavram Shantaram Vichare
Ashwin Chitale	...	Parshuram 'Parshya' Vichare
Sandeep Kulkarni	...	Dr. Sane
Amruta Subhash	...	Ashawari (Medica Social Worker)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vibhawari Deshpande	...	Receptionist
Ashwini Giri	...	Mrs. Vichare
Ganesh Manjrekar	...	Divakar (uncle)

Also Known As:

Breath (India: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

USA:107 min

Country:

India

Language:

Marathi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Trivia:

India's entry for best foreign film at the Oscars 2004.

Very, very overrated!

This is not a good movie at all. I cannot believe that after fifty years, this movie gets the National Award when there have been such gems from Marathi cinema that have been so systematically ignored. This is a very overrated movie that got very, very lucky. It was given the National Award, harvested the popular opinion and now is going to represent India before the international audience. Anyone with even a marginal understanding of good, quality cinema will know very well that this will not even be nominated at the Oscars.

I cannot understand where to start. There are just so many things that are wrong and lacking in this movie that it amazing it even got considered for the National Award. That this movie is awarded as the best movie to come out this year goes to show the biased judgment of people who hold the reins of Indian cinema and the diminutive understanding of the people who blindly appreciate this movie.

The topic chosen is great. It is important that such movies be made – but only by people who are able to handle them. Sandeep Sawant does not measure up to the task – not even close. His direction is jumpy, confused. There is no clear thought process. He tries, but is not able to explore the depth of the characters, especially the grandfather. He is not able to show the initial horror, anxiety and then hopeless detachment and yet the insurmountable courage of the grandfather. He wastes our time in the hospital when we should have been shown the time pair spend together. He is trying to cram in everything without any priorities. He does not understand his subject properly and that really counts against him.

However, the cast does not help Sawant either. Worst job – Amruta Shubash. She is a terrible actor and a terrible choice for this or any sensible acting job. How did she get 'Tee Phulrani'? Extremely lucky and/or extremely influential and/or extremely pitiful casting. Having said that, she goes out of her way to do an even terrible job in this movie. Her act of the MSW should have gone to the more responsible actor – Sonali Kulkarni. Amruta Subhash did not understand it. MSW's work under constant emotional stress and yet it is important for them to project a calm, strong exterior, as this is reassuring to the patients. Amruta Subhash's Asawari seems even more scared and in need of support than the people she is working for.

Second worst – Arun Nalawade. I have never seen a more wooden face in Marathi film industry (it is abound and everywhere in today's Hindi cinema though). He is the producer and so he chose himself; no second thought, no consideration. Any good actor would have jumped to play this role even if he had to pay the producer's to do it, but Arun Nalawade would not let anyone else do it. Over ambitious and obtuse, he contributes to bring down the movie more than everyone else combined. His acting lacks research and even the basic acting skills. My choice for this role would be Vikram Gokhale.

The music is uninspired. The movie is technically lacking. It could well have been an FTII project job.

On the up side; brilliant performance by Ashwin Chitale. It is amazing that such a young boy could give such a respectable performance. He put many of today's actors to shame. Unintentionally maybe, but he brought his own innocence to his character and that made it a memorable performance. Also, Sandeep Kulkarni really gave a very believable performance. Really put in all his efforts and it shows. The script too is well written.

'Shoestring budget' cannot be a valid argument to praise this movie. Lack of funds dogs all of the Marathi movies. Cricket and Hindi movies sponge all the money and the rest are left to fight for the scraps. It is a sorry state of affairs but yet not reason enough to praise any immature movie that comes out. 'Doghi' was brilliant movie and it too was made on a shoestring budget. 'Doghi' also lacked technically but it was well researched and well made. It was abound in details and supported by wonderful performances by everyone and that made it rich cinema. Why did it not receive the accolades it so very deserved? – only proves my point of biased judgment.

Lack of research and not of funds, is what makes 'Shwaas' such a bad movie.