A deeply unsatisfying answer to existential questions
Overview: Set on the banks of river Narmada, ‘Who Am I’ opens with a static shot of a younger pandit taking a dip into the placid waters of India’s iconic river. It units the tone for an unhurried screenplay with a slow-moving narrative that unfolds a shock or two, alongside the way in which and plenty of moments of patiently ready for issues to occur. Adapting a novel could be difficult, particularly, when it’s about an summary concept that displays upon a personality’s internal turmoil about existential questions. Director Shireesh Khemariya and the creator of the novel Ashok Jamnani, who has co-written the screenplay and dialogue together with Kallol Mukherjee solely partially succeed of their mission. And there are a number of contributing elements.
To start with, the character of Bhavataviya (Chetan Sharma) is launched with little to no background and the viewers is predicted to attach with him and his busy thoughts, filled with questions immediately. Whereas that by no means occurs, one does marvel, why the teen is the way in which he’s and what makes him ask the identical questions, again and again with out convincingly looking for the solutions from the correct sources. He comes throughout as too naive and uncooked for a pupil of philosophy. The individuals and the ecosystem round him, offer you little confidence that any of his soul-searching questions would ever be answered, anyway. Even his professor VLN sir (Shashie Verma), who he holds in very excessive regard, by no means actually offers him any helpful solutions. As a substitute, he leaves him with lingering meals for thought, kinda broad statements that take a much bigger toll on his thoughts and his fledgling love life with Aditi (Rishika Chandani) – the daughter of the girl, who takes him in as a paying visitor. Aditi’s character is filled with life and starkly reverse to that of Bhavataviya. Whereas she brings in a ray of hope and a few cheer in an in any other case uninteresting setup, their love story is compelled and awkward.
Performances throughout the board are first rate however are let down by weak writing and Shireesh Khemariya’s route that struggles to carry alive the sturdy emotional and non secular cloth of the e book. Chetan Sharma is effectively forged because the younger Bhavataviya and he does justice along with his position regardless of the restrictions within the writing. Rishika Chandani lights up the display screen along with her presence and performs her half effectively. Shashie Verma is spectacular in his restricted position that would have been enhanced with higher, extra significant dialogues and exchanges with the protagonist. Veteran actor Surendra Rajan stands tall along with his pitch good portrayal of the Swamiji. He embodies the hope and hopelessness of life after a particularly tragic incident that adjustments the course of his existence. His character has extra cause and heft than anything within the movie.
The modest manufacturing values fail to totally seize the movie’s deeply non secular and surreal scale. The music is well-tuned to the narrative.
‘Who Am I’ units out as an try to resonate and join with our deep rooted anxieties, fears and existential questions. Removed from that it doesn’t depart you any wiser, emotionally richer or cinematically happy.
