Jalpari-The Desert Mermaid

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This has to be a surprise package of the year. What was an innocent outing with my daughter to show her a children's film turned out to be a fascinating experience indeed. An honest and daring attempt to showcase one of the biggest and India's most shameful crime on female foeticide. Shot extensively in a village in Mahendergarh, Haryana it has the lowest sex ratio in the country. Which is actually a paradox.

The film stands out for it's contrasts. A urban family of four members. Granny, father and two kids have their ancestral roots in the village. Contrast that to their current existence in a upscale neighbourhood in New Delhi. The father a successful doctor and has the desire to set up a hospital in his village too. The presence of a bengali (from New Jalpaiguri) in a Haryana Hamlet are all assured and stark contrasts that the Director Neel Madhav Panda wants us to meander through.

It starts as a movie through the eyes of the lead protagonist Shreya (Lehar Khan) and her kid brother Sam. The usual tiffs, fights, the family conundrum and the occasional reference of a visit to the village. Finally, as the group lands up in the village does the reality starts seething in. The build up to the finale is casual, laid back and relaxed. It takes it's time to build and then once it starts building up the course is pretty much laid.

Though there are enough loose ends to tie. For one, the editing of the movie could have been tighter, the script also does not let the characters evolve or in some cases characters are not portrayed fully. Enough justice could have been done to the character of Rahul Singh (the boxer-pun intended) or that of Suhasini Mulay and even a bundel of talent like Harsh Mayar (I am Kalam).

Yet the movie stands out for its simplicity, and not sounding preachy at any moment in time. Today's generation does not like to be preached and prefers learning by doing. Learn from doing the mistakes should I say. The movie makes it mark here. However, one wishes that an important theme such as this could have had more screen space. The climax was sudden and short.

The build up was relaxed and happened at the right time, yet it failed to kind of linger on and drive home the message. Movies with such strong messages must leave viewers with a take home thought. Taare Zameen Par!

Yet, Neel Madhab Panda scores with his honesty and simplicity. Kudos to him and his brand of cinema. Does not let off after a wonderful and sweet package, I am Kalam!

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