May 09, 2015 02:41 AM
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A quirky take on the father-daughter relationship. It is a film about an old man grumbling about constipation, a film about a young girl who knows how to drive but chooses not to, and a film about a young man who just can’t bear his mother. There is a road trip, there are arguments, there is affection, and all of that I leave for you to discover.
This review is, besides applause, merely a celebration of detail and of craft.Bachchan, as Banerjee, is a delight, hamming it up in the way old Bengali men do, posturing for family and servants and wagging his finger reproachfully at those outside the clan - at one point he calls Irrfan “you non-Bengali Chaudhury.” He appears brash and dismissive bhor-backed role than father and daughter, he imbues his character with enough authenticity to steal many a scene and give the narrative its consistency.
Interestingly, Sircar chooses not to get cinematic in his use of visuals. The camera ignores all opportunities of classic outdoor shots during the road trip and instead stays close to the characters, in keeping with the intimate, personal drama at the heart of the story. The edit gets a little jerky in its rapid pace in the beginning but the melodious sarod in the opening credits sets the mood of a Bengali household beautifully.
Piku is one of the best films of the year. It’s a must-watch for the thundering trio of Bachchan, Padukone and Khan.
A must Watch!
