PIKU: Movie review

And we assumed that an intelligent script and good writing in bollywood got lost in the woods. Thankfully, Piku reinstates the value of credible cinema and restores our faith in this promising enterprise.

The story of a cranky, cribbing widowed bengali father and his able, independent daughter;  Piku is an original, refreshing, endearing and straight from the heart tale which wins you hands down and never lets the smile fade away from your face.

The movie revolves around the eccentric relationship the father-daughter duo share, owing mostly to the abnormal bowel the father suffers from. The discussion is mostly regarding the cause and effect of the faeces, going to the extent of its texture and form. Gross and stinky it may seem, but far from it, the writing makes it charming and appealing. It is the sheer brilliance of the writing and the narrative which infuses so much wit and humor in the proceedings, never making the drama look repetitive, boring or even mildly annoying.

The first half is breezy and has many genuine laugh out loud moments. One or two are absolutely hilarious. A handful of dialogues are pure gems, the rest pretty relevant.

The second half, too has its moments of spark. The chemistry between Irfan and Deepika is a joy to watch, their romance intentionally staying away from the stereotypic clichés. All the characters written in pure flesh and blood, and magnificently enacted.

Though meant to be a swift harmless comedy, the film for me, on a personal level seemed layered with different strata:

Firstly, The character of Amitabh's Bhaskor Banerjee, with all of its obsession, reflects the ageing phenomenon as a sort of Deja vu: The declining years being just like the juvenile phase. Growing old to be a child again.
His selfish, stubborn, demanding and unapologetic demeanour is everything one associates with a child. A 70 year old being childish, getting older and longing for attention.
The film makes a very strong point on the ageing and ailing Parents, who long for the same affection and care they once showered on their children. Life, for them comes a full circle.They are not to be judged, just to be looked after and loved, not to be left alone, but tugged in close.

Secondly, There is a strong undertone of women empowerment in the manner Piku gets all her priorities straight. 'Financially independent, sexually active', Amitabh describes her, but she is so much more.
She knows her way in a man's world, is intelligent, understands her responsibilities and strikes a balance perfectly. The concern towards her father is one of the highlights. Never forced or melodramatic, the tenderness and care for her father is a pleasure to watch.

In the end, there is so much to love, and so much to enjoy. Nothing cosmetic, nothing flamboyant and nothing heroic. Just a warm and emotionally enriching experience.

Forget the constipation, this is pure roughage to your bowels
A must watch