Once in an exceedingly rare while does the Hindi film industry serve up a sumptuous starter that makes your stomach rumble in anticipation of a gourmet main course and "Sonali Cable" is one such starter that alas does not end with the promised gourmet meal.........
Though, it does not boast of any marquee names apart from Anupam Kher's "Sonali Cable" does certainly make the audience sit up and take notice with it's David versus Goliath tale of a feisty; obdurate; spirited and no nonsense Sonali (Rhea Chakraborty) taking on the might and muscle power of a wannabe tycoon (Kher) who crunches khakras as if they were going out of fashion and wants to engulf Mumbai under the deluge of his cable network so that he can emerge as the "uncrowned badshah" of Akkhi Mumbai........
Ali Fazal (son of the local corporator) plays Sonali's love interest who unstintingly stands by her in her relentless battle against a carnivorous corporate culture and entity who threatens to swallow or engulf everything that stands in it's way in it's midst even though his mother (Smita Jaykar) who embodies the grubby; self serving and unscrupulous corporator to the "T" is hand in glove with Kher and more than a willing accomplice in his nefarious activities..........
Thought; absolutely relevant and extremely topical in this era of a permanently wired and ensnared universe; soulless corporations out to make a buck regardless of either the cost or social ramifications of this unmitigated and insatiable lust for a buck and last but not the least the innumerable scams associated with the murky and gory world of spectrum allocation; "Sonali Cable" had the inherent potential to become a modern day fable but unduly suffers from weak and disinterested writing that leaves the film flagging in the parts that should have delivered a knock out punch.........
Yes; the cast does manfully strive to rise above a mundane script and insert that much needed vigour and urgency in the on screen developments but jerky characterisation especially Sonali's (her gaali's and fits of pique seemed a little to stagey and artificial for my liking) does leave you jaded; disinterested and wondering what might have been.........
All in all; "Sonali" is like that delectable biryani that entices you with it's resplendent colour; heady aromas and mouth watering visage but leaves a bitter after taste in your mouth on account of it being undercooked and not being given the much desired finishing touches; "Sonali" promises much more than it delivers and that if any is it's biggest and most significant failing.........
How one wishes that director Charudutt Acharya and his ensemble team of on screen writers had risen out of their collective stupor and combined their collective energy in delivering a tour de force that would have left you gasping in wonderment.........
RATING: 2.5/5; do watch it if you are hopelessly addicted to David versus Goliath present day fables like yours truly.........
Though, it does not boast of any marquee names apart from Anupam Kher's "Sonali Cable" does certainly make the audience sit up and take notice with it's David versus Goliath tale of a feisty; obdurate; spirited and no nonsense Sonali (Rhea Chakraborty) taking on the might and muscle power of a wannabe tycoon (Kher) who crunches khakras as if they were going out of fashion and wants to engulf Mumbai under the deluge of his cable network so that he can emerge as the "uncrowned badshah" of Akkhi Mumbai........
Ali Fazal (son of the local corporator) plays Sonali's love interest who unstintingly stands by her in her relentless battle against a carnivorous corporate culture and entity who threatens to swallow or engulf everything that stands in it's way in it's midst even though his mother (Smita Jaykar) who embodies the grubby; self serving and unscrupulous corporator to the "T" is hand in glove with Kher and more than a willing accomplice in his nefarious activities..........
Thought; absolutely relevant and extremely topical in this era of a permanently wired and ensnared universe; soulless corporations out to make a buck regardless of either the cost or social ramifications of this unmitigated and insatiable lust for a buck and last but not the least the innumerable scams associated with the murky and gory world of spectrum allocation; "Sonali Cable" had the inherent potential to become a modern day fable but unduly suffers from weak and disinterested writing that leaves the film flagging in the parts that should have delivered a knock out punch.........
Yes; the cast does manfully strive to rise above a mundane script and insert that much needed vigour and urgency in the on screen developments but jerky characterisation especially Sonali's (her gaali's and fits of pique seemed a little to stagey and artificial for my liking) does leave you jaded; disinterested and wondering what might have been.........
All in all; "Sonali" is like that delectable biryani that entices you with it's resplendent colour; heady aromas and mouth watering visage but leaves a bitter after taste in your mouth on account of it being undercooked and not being given the much desired finishing touches; "Sonali" promises much more than it delivers and that if any is it's biggest and most significant failing.........
How one wishes that director Charudutt Acharya and his ensemble team of on screen writers had risen out of their collective stupor and combined their collective energy in delivering a tour de force that would have left you gasping in wonderment.........
RATING: 2.5/5; do watch it if you are hopelessly addicted to David versus Goliath present day fables like yours truly.........
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