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EDITOR'S PICK
`10ml
Love` - refreshing potion of entertainment (IANS Movie Review)
Rating: **1/2
10ml Love is writer-director Sharat Katariya`s take on Shakespeare`s
A Midsummer Night`s Dream. It is a well adapted and simple
contemporary story set in an Indian milieu.
The film opens with a bunch of Ramlila artistes rehearsing for a show, and
slowly merges into the world of the three main couples in the story. The lives
of the three couples are smoothly interlocked and connected by the celebrations
of Shweta (Tara Sharma) and Neel`s (Purab Kohli) impending wedding, pretty much
as in Shakespeare`s play.
Ghalib`s (Rajat Kapoor) Ammijaan (Sarita Joshi) hands over a 10 ml magical
potion - `Josh-e-Jawani` - to her son to help him woo and win back his wife
Roshni (Tisca Chopra). The potion creates havoc in the lives of the three
couples for one night. The 10 ml love potion sorts out their lives, enabling
each one to get back to the real love of their lives, albeit after a night of
complexities and confusion.
Neil Bhooplam as Peter Periera, a conscientious, god-fearing Christian, who
leaves everything to God, is the show stealer with his superb performance. Koel
Purie as Mini, the girl who madly loves Neel, essays her character with panache.
Especially commendable are her expressions, fraught with surprise and
frustration, in the climax scene, where both men are chasing her.
Tisca Chopra as the suppressed Muslim wife is convincing. Rajat Kapoor, as her
suspicious shauhar, who is a quack hakim selling home-made remedies gives a
splendidly restrained performance. Tara Sharma looks pretty, but is her usual
screechy-self. The Punjabi relatives at the wedding are an entertaining trio, so
typical of ladies at such weddings. Manu Rishi Chaddha deserves kudos as the man
marooned in a boat after an incredible nocturnal escapade with an unknown lady.
Sharat Katariya`s story is well-crafted and delivers several punches. The
ensemble cast, mainly from theatre, packs great entertainment, each one
rendering a superb performance. A rare combination of a good script based on an
adaptation, with realistic performances.
The music and background score by Sagar Desai is intriguingly pleasant. Neeraj
Sahay`s cinematography though simple, stands out in the climax, where the
characters enter a dreamy field. This scene is interestingly done. It has a
magical quality about it with silhouettes, et al making it surreal.
Though the film seems slightly amateurish and theatrical in its treatment in the
beginning, it soon gets a good grip and keeps you engaged. The climax is
hilarious and well-executed by the actors.
10ml Love snuggly fits into the small `budget` wonder. Go for it!