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Friday, December 6, 2024
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BOLLYWOOD KADVI HAWA
EDITOR'S PICK
Kadvi Hawa': A timely warning about global warming ( Review By
Subhash K Jha ; Rating ****)
Look at what we've done to Mother Earth. She is no longer Mother, she is Muddle
Earth heading towards Murder Earth. In director Nila Madhab Panda's new work
aptly entitled "Kadwi Hawa", the bitter truth of ecological plunder, is wrapped
in a parable about a blind restless patriarch played by Sanjay Mishra who
wanders the merciless hinterland of Mahua.
Mahua and its parched dry energy-sapping water-less landscape could be in any
part of the world where the water-level has fallen to almost zero, so much so
that at school a little boy says there are only two seasons in his village --
hot and cold.
Panda's cameraperson Ramanuj Dutta captures the dry wasteland of a civilisation
on the brink of extinction. There is a feeling of parched dread in the way the
landscape is captured. And the skilfully selfeffacing Sanjay Mishra blends into
the arid milieu as though born into it.
Mishra's performance, as well as the milieu captured on camera, strike not a
single false note.
For all that Mishra cares, the camera may not be trained on him at all. He
doesn't act for the camera. Come to think of it, he doesn't act for anybody.
The same level of commitment is evident in Ranvir Shorey's performance. He is a
loan collector, the laconic family man from Orissa who is given the dirty job of
recouping loan money from impoverished farmers.
The bond that grows between Mishra and Shorey is based on inequality. They both
are seen as victims in a society that shames its lowest denominator only because
they've nothing to lose.
Shorey playing Gunu Babu brings bouts of good natured smiles to a milieu that
ekes out its existence from the innards of misery.
The very capable Tollotama Shome puts in a credible performance as Hedu's
(Mishra) caring daughter-in-law.
But the film and its moistureless milieu is owned by Mishra. Watch him caress
the parched ground in a gesture of unmitigated grief towards the end of the
film.
"Kadvi Hawa" is a timely relevant warning for mankind to stop being unkind to
Earth.
Mishra in his skimpy dhoti epitomizes the grievous isolation of an individual
who is way too proud to take help, financial or otherwise, from any institution
or individual.
Standing stooped in his pride, Mishra proves himself quite the calendar boy for
abject poverty. This film must not be missed by any global citizen.
If you insist on watching "Justice League" this week you mustn't regret having
missed out one of the most thought-provoking and exhausting and yet finally
exceedingly rewarding film.
'Kadvi Hawa': Bitter truth well told ( Review By Troy Ribeiro ; Rating ***1/2)
Based on true stories, "Kadvi Hawa" is the bitter pill that reminds you about
the dark winds of change.
Global warming and climate change are real and are caused by human activity.
Despite not showing any such activity that is destroying the civilization, the
film makes a heartfelt point in a straightforward way.
It speaks about the state of the environment, the destruction of our
civilization, the plight of the farmers and of the people living in coastal
areas.
The narrative begins with close-up shots alternating between a pair of weary
feet trudging a beaten path and a head shot moving with a staff till the old man
comes preciously close to a cliff in the barren ravines of Mahua in Bundelkand.
The man is blind and this dramatic start sets the ball rolling to the personal
story of Hedu, the father of Mukund, a debt-ridden farmer.
Hedu lives with his son Mukund and his family comprising of his wife and two
daughters - Kuhu and Pihu. They live a hand-to-mouth existence. His companion is
Anapurna - the Buffalo who he tends during the day.
Hedu lives in constant fear that his son Mukund might commit suicide because of
his inability to pay back his loan.
As a concerned father he also heads to a micro-finance bank in a nearest town to
check the amount his son, Mukund owes the bank.
When he realises that the debt has doubled due to accumulating interest, he is
flabbergasted and frightened as he is aware that his son has no means to repay
back the loan.
In his endeavour to clear Mukund's debt and unbeknownst to him, Hedu befriends
Gunu Babu, the loan recovery officer, who hails from Odisha.
Gunu is also referred to as Yamdut, the God of death, as there have been cases
of farmers committing suicide after being pursued by him.
Hedu guides Gunu in recovering the loans from other debt-ridden farmers. But
soon realisation dawns on him, when Mukund goes missing.
Guilt-ridden Hedu then laments, that the winds of change have already engulfed
them.
The plot unfolds in a simply witty and satirical manner especially when Hedu
interacts with his curious granddaughter Kuhu. This is simply evident in
practically every scene with her.
Watching them interact is really amusing, especially when he attributes his
source of information to the wind. And when the little girl reports to him that
a classmate, contrary to the text books, says that there are only two seasons --
he responds, "There used to be four seasons, but not now. It feels like the
winds have an illness."
That's when you realise the plot is stirring towards matters regarding climate
change. And with Gunu's predicament, the director deftly ropes in the Odisha
cyclone issue.
Sanjay Mishra is the Sun around which the talented supporting cast orbit. He
shines brilliantly, with his down-to-earth, natural performance. You experience
his anxiety and pain as Hedu. He is aptly supported by: Ranvir Shorey as the
frustrated Gunu, Bhupesh Singh as his reticent son, Mukund, Tillotama Shome as
his concerned daughter-in-law and Ekta Sawant as his chirpy granddaughter Kuhu.
They all add a distinct flavour to their characters.
The background score by Santosh Jagdale is inspiring and hits the right notes.
The only song "Main Banjar" which comes in far end of the narrative suitably
conveys the essence of the film.
Cinematography by Ramanuj Dutta captures the terrain and the finer nuances of
every actor with detailed accuracy.
Overall, sans any entertainment, this slice-of-life film gives us so little to
focus on that it wins by default.
National Award-winning filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda is looking forward to the Chinese premier of his drama film "Kadvi Hawa" at the Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF)."Looking forward to the Chinese Premier of 'Kadvi Hawa' at BJIFF, honoured to Be shortlisted among the top 15 films competing for the 'Tiantan Award' from 659 entries from 71 countries, Congrats all Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey, Tillotama Shome and Manish Mundra," Panda tweeted on Sunday.Read More
'Kadvi Hawa' director hopes word of mouth drives film"Kadvi Hawa" director Nila Madhab Panda hopes a positive word of mouth brings in more footfalls in theatres to watch the movie, which makes a point about climate change.Read More
Climate change is here and we cannot turn a blind eye to it anymore. Kadvi Hawa is a story about how climate change affects us all.
