Watched 'Patakha' on Prime recently. Vishal Bhardwaj has come up with another authentic vignette based in rural India, perhaps somewhere in Western UP. A thoroughly enjoyable comedy with emotional overtones, if one disregards the slight difficulty, even for some in North India, in understanding the local dialect in which most dialogues are spoken (lending added authenticity to the movie) and the occasional strong language used, a hallmark of many Bhardwaj movies.
The movie depicts the hate-hate relationship of two sisters brought up by a single parent, the mine-operator dad struggling with corrupt bureaucracy (his 'selling' of a daughter, both of whom he adores, to a widower moneylender, to raise bribe money, forms the crux of the first half). The second half then goes on to the struggles of the two sisters, both of whom elope and marry their boyfriends (two brothers) to adjust to their married life, to fulfil their dreams (by fomenting a division of property), success in life, their continued obsession with each other even while living apart, and eventual reconciliation with a final physical fight (while their father pretends to be dead!), this one much milder than the 'cat and dog' rumpus they indulge in throughout the movie.
As usual, Bhardwaj manages to bring to the audience a total view of village life, warts and all, without any overt comment. Gender disparity, Panchayat rule, 'selling' of daughters (with a public toss to decide which one!), etc. are all there. But the changing social landscape of rural India is also showcased in a gentle manner - women standing up for their rights and dreams, inter-mixing of communities, non-interfering in-laws, women entrepreneurship, etc. are also there, all told in a gentle, humorous tone and matter of fact way.
While the two protagonists shine in their roles, Sunil Grover is outstanding as the village busybody who understands and helps the sisters at every step to the end, while Vijay Raaz plays well the hassled single parent always struggling to make peace between his two daughters.
An entertaining movie which should also be seen as a window to the changing social landscape of rural India.
The movie depicts the hate-hate relationship of two sisters brought up by a single parent, the mine-operator dad struggling with corrupt bureaucracy (his 'selling' of a daughter, both of whom he adores, to a widower moneylender, to raise bribe money, forms the crux of the first half). The second half then goes on to the struggles of the two sisters, both of whom elope and marry their boyfriends (two brothers) to adjust to their married life, to fulfil their dreams (by fomenting a division of property), success in life, their continued obsession with each other even while living apart, and eventual reconciliation with a final physical fight (while their father pretends to be dead!), this one much milder than the 'cat and dog' rumpus they indulge in throughout the movie.
As usual, Bhardwaj manages to bring to the audience a total view of village life, warts and all, without any overt comment. Gender disparity, Panchayat rule, 'selling' of daughters (with a public toss to decide which one!), etc. are all there. But the changing social landscape of rural India is also showcased in a gentle manner - women standing up for their rights and dreams, inter-mixing of communities, non-interfering in-laws, women entrepreneurship, etc. are also there, all told in a gentle, humorous tone and matter of fact way.
While the two protagonists shine in their roles, Sunil Grover is outstanding as the village busybody who understands and helps the sisters at every step to the end, while Vijay Raaz plays well the hassled single parent always struggling to make peace between his two daughters.
An entertaining movie which should also be seen as a window to the changing social landscape of rural India.
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