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Matto Ki Saikil

Farhad Dalal
By-
Farhad Dalal
Rating
3.5 Star popcorn reviewss

Introduction

Onto the final release of the weekend and I finished watching the new Hindi theatrical release Matto Ki Saikil starring Prakash Jha. This weekend had four new Hindi releases but all of them have slipped under radar due to the ongoing Brahmastra wave. And so all of the four releases have had a limited release with little to no buzz surrounding them!

When it comes to social dramas which tackle essential social issues, the Hindi Film Industry had been lagging slightly behind. There are films being made on social issues but they are few and far between. So everytime there is a release in the genre, I am all ears for it. This week I really wished to watch the other Hindi film Siya as well. But owing to its very limited release, I had to skip that and I would now await its OTT release. But on the plus side, I happened to catch the film Matto Ki Saikil instead. So then is Matto Ki Saikil worth your time, stay tuned.


Story & Screenplay

Matto Ki Saikil is a social satire which follows the story of Matto who is extremely fond of his now wearing cycle until tragedy strikes. What happens next? The story is a poignant, searing and a hard-hitting social satire. The screenplay standing at less than a 100 minutes means it is an extremely brisk watch!

The drama relies heavily in its world building. And so you are introduced to the protagonist and the world around him. There is a political undercurrent which you will feel right at the beginning. The dynamics of the people residing in the area is well captured in the drama. You also get a feel of the economic situation of the protagonist and his family very early on. Being a daily wage labourer means that their meals and expenses depend on how much he earns everyday. So an unexpected medical situation completely throws off the entire scenario.

The drama also gives you a feel of the protagonist’s attachment to his cycle which is now nearing its end. It needs repair every now and then, this until tragedy strikes one day. There is a fleeting moment of sadness which you do feel for the character. The struggles which follow only makes you want to empathize with the character even more. The events leading up to the final act are interesting as a simple incident is tagged to the political situation which may still be prevalent in the country today. However, I really wished that the writers could have concluded the drama better. I felt the film was atleast 15 minutes short and a more rounded conclusion would have resulted in a better impact. But overall, the screenplay is quite well written.


Dialogues, Music & Direction

The dialogues are true to the area where the drama is set in and they definitely manage to create a stir. The BGM is pretty earthy and depicts the drama pretty well. Likewise for the cinematography and editing which add credibility to the drama. Director M Gani does a pretty good job in conveying the message here through an effective satire.

Performances

The performances are pretty good here. Anita Chaudhary as Matto’s wife has her moments to shine. Arohi Sharma as Neeraj adds a good amount of maturity to her role. Her quiet presence speaks volumes about her character which she enacts effectively. But it is Prakash Jha as Matto who is the screen stealer. His mannerisms and body language brilliantly convey the plight of his character. The sympathy of the audience always lies with his character owing to a bunch of scenes wherein his character struggles for money(while earning or even spending on food). He delivers a towering performance, something which I could equate to yesteryear’s actor Balraj Sahni Saab.

Conclusion

Matto Ki Saikil is a searing and hard-hitting drama which effectively communicates its message. Available in a theatre near you.

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