Rating: 4.5/5
Anu Menon’s directorial venture offers an attractive and interesting peak into the world of genius Indian mathematician, astrologer and author
Starting off with a brilliant opening sequence that hits you hard, the film promises to be much more than just a simple biopic. Shakuntala Devi transcends from adhering to the notions of biopic and how this should be treated for screen. The film is everything you need for inspiration, entertainment, and life lessons beyond the meanings of all these. The film paints the gifted mathematics wizard in capacities that one doesn’t know of, a very intelligent way to portray a person.
PLOT
The film is based on the life of Shakuntala Devi (Vidya Balan), revered as the human computer.
STORY/SCREENPLAY/GENERAL
Told through the eyes of Shakuntala Devi’s daughter Anupama, the story and screenplay is written by Menon herself and Nayanika Mahtani. The dialogues are by Ishita Moitra. It’s a screenplay worth referring to time and again, to understand the brilliance of structure and elements that resonate with you.
There is so much happening in the film, yet it never feels rushed. You get adequate time to absorb the details and still are able to see so much unfold on screen. This is no mean feat. Early on in the film when Shakuntala as a child is told that tu ek din bahut bada aadmi banegi, you know for sure that the film is not only about her skills with numbers. A social commentary has been made without going overboard or preachy almost all throughout in a way that you ponder over it. Simply genius of the writers to have done that.
Right from the time when Shakuntala declares that she should be addressed as ‘appa’ of the house since she earns through her maths shows, to the time her aspirations rise way beyond her duties, the film covers a huge spectrum. What is right and what is wrong? Or who is more right? Or what is less wrong? The film doesn’t take a stand, leaving you to take one. The film oscillates beautifully between such notions and all you can do is marvel the nuanced writing.
The film is also a picture between a mother and her daughter. It is an ode to a woman of her womanhood. Duties vs aspirations. Responsibilities vs dreams. Or can they go hand in hand? Even when the film tries to say something and impart a lesson, it doesn’t look forced, and that’s the biggest beauty of the film. Kudos to Menon for making the film go ahead of maths, making it more humane, showcasing Shakuntala Devi’s personal aspect in great detail.
What also steals your heart is the fact that the narrative is unconventionally eccentric. The ingrained humour in the plot and the showers of emotions and tears between make it for a complete package.
One thing that does fall short is Shakuntala’s aversion towards her parents. Even when she expresses it in the film, you don’t quite relate to it as it is not shown. You are asked to believe it. However, this is the only weak point, that too a minor one.
PERFORMANCE
Vidya Balan is hands down the reigning queen. She owns the frames she is in. Give her anything and she rules in them all. Humourous, funny, weird, emotional, turbulent, strange, or even plain- she is right up there. Not only does she deserve some of the best compliments for this one, she also deserves some of the highest awards for this portrayal. Of course it is debatable if the real person was also the same in demeanour, but in the role, Vidya is an ace. As the film says, Vidya Kasam.
Sanya Malhotra is simply outstanding too. Film after film, she proves she is one of the most talented actors of the current lot. She is so good that whenever she appears, you anticipate a quick flow in the narrative. And you are not disappointed.
Amit Sadh lends possibly the finest supporting act here. He is a charmer. He contributes so wonderfully in the plot that you want more and more of him. Same can be said about Jisshu Sengupta. You relate to him the most, the most sane person probably in the entire ensemble. He delivers a mature performance, making the role completely his own personality.
Sheeba Chadha in a small role is just okay. She does what is asked of her.
OTHER TECHNICALITIES
Music by Sachin-Jigar is soulful, adding dimensions to the film. The songs are not too many, but when they do come, they make you sing along. They give meaning to the content as well. Background score by Karan Kulkarni is very good, suiting the sensibilities of the film.
Keiko Nakahara’s cinematography is bold and yet simple. The colours are vibrant. The periods are created well and definitions are achieved satisfactorily. Production design by Vintee Bansal and Meenal Agarwal is also fantastically done, keeping in mind the positioning right. The sets give the authentic feel and you feel connected all through. Credits to make up and costume department as well for making the film look real.
Editing by Antara Lahiri is one of the best aspects of this film. First, the film travels back and forth. Also the way scenes are cut and how they make transitions give the film an edge. The filmmaking is very unique and enjoyable, all achieved through smart work on editing table. Writing and editing make this film what it is. Simply superb.
The film is for all. Must be watched by all. Maths, womanhood, mother-daughter, husband-wife, roles, duties, responsibilities, life, dreams, skills, individuality- the film has it all. What more do you need? Watch it now.
When you notice a problem, the quickest way to encourage a change in behaviour is to give feedback.
This will help your co-worker improve on the key areas you bring up.Fortunately, many become inspired or motivated to perform better when they receive constructive criticism rather than be put off by it.Giving feedback isn’t limited to those who work under you or are of the same level as you.
The process of giving feedback is relatively the same, but the results can vary according to your relationship.
Gauge whether the person is open to whatever you have to say, especially if it’s your boss.If you know that they’re likely to react negatively, it’s better not to say anything.
You can also consult with another colleague to see what they think.When it’s someone higher than youYour superior may get defensive or upset about your feedback regardless of how you’ve carefully thought it out.
They might never want to hear you speak about their sales skills, for example, so provide constructive criticisms on other areas instead.Giving Feedback in GeneralNo matter if you’re giving feedback to someone of the same level or someone higher than you, there are some steps you can take to ensure positive results.Choose the right timeAs much as possible, give feedback within 24 hours of a specific instance or event, but allow enough time, so none of you feels rushed.
This is technically a band submission, though that's kind of weird to say since I've loved and listened to these guys for quite a while now and probably would have ended up doing a post on them anyways.
But huge thanks to them for sending me their new album, that's pretty cool.
Their dynamic shifts are executed incredibly well, even at the most chaotic of moments.
At times they can sound as if every instrument is just falling over the other in a flurry of passion, and exploding in feedback.
All of this is topped by the vocals, which are relatively clearly sung, but equally cathartic to that of a band in this type of music.
This intimacy adds a personal touch to their music that makes it feel that much more impactful, and adds to the immense force of their sound.
The planning for the events is one of the major stages involved in the process.
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Impeccable detail and design services are offered at cost-effective prices.The company has over 20 years of experience in floral designing for varied events.
Other than fur being extremely fashionable and stylish, it also has a way of protecting you and keeping you warm like no other material you can find.
If you already have enough fur coats, or they really just aren’t your style, there are other ways to incorporate fur into your wardrobe and daily outfit rotations, especially during the winter months.
Fur headbands are a great way to add extra needed warmth and comfort to your daily look, without having to worry about trudging around in a heavy or extravagant fur coat wherever you go.There are a lot of possibilities when it comes to fur headbands, so let’s break it down.
Some of them include fox, mink, beaver, rabbit, chinchilla, and sheepskin to name a few.
If you’re not as familiar with the different types of fur, simply do some research beforehand to see what type of fur would be the best fit for you.Each fur has a very different shape, feeling, hair composition, length and thickness, so it’s great to take all of that into consideration before purchasing a new fur headband.
If you have a standard sized head and can fit into many normal sized hats, you should be able to fit into every kind of these fur headbands.If you know that your head is on the smaller or bigger side, that’s no worries!
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