Monks, Don't Sell Ferraries but meet Totto Chan. Review on Aashayein

Once upon a time I read A Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. A leading advocate got a sudden heart attack and he took shelter in Himalayas and come to new life taking the message to the world. Setbacks of life remind us of the days we didn’t live well. How good it is to live each day fulfilling the wishes of ours and others? In the Present, I am reading Totto Chan, based on which Tare Zameen Par is made. What if the Monk admitted to a school like the one admitted Totto Chan?

Rahul (John Abraham) is a compulsive gambler. An excellent golfer and young he has nothing to worry about life and is full of dreams of tomorrow. On the day of his engagement he got his shock of life, he got lung cancer and doctor predicted a 3 months life for him. Leaving most of cash and relations behind, he took shelter in an asram of hope. He gets enlightenment from a ‘lama’ resembling boy who simply reminds him about the essence of life. He is now determined to take the message to the inmates of the asram and to the outside world.

The basic plot is very promising and had great potential. However, the director’s attempt to mix art and commercial values together mixed up the happening. The theme got a great commercial potential but the director thought of proceeding the art way. Obviously this made things difficult for the commercial audience. The film is a no recco for average audience who looks for routine entertainment. However, for one who treat cinema seriously and is ready to look beyond the obvious there is some hope and there is a message to capture and proceed with.

What hold our freedom? At personal level, in our career and in our nation, we are slaves of our habits and greed. Only in the light of realisation we can see the clutches. The key to freedom is finding the key to unlock the chains. There is wisdom waiting outside allow it into enter your room if you are not going to it early. Time will not wait for anybody. Let us enjoy today while it is here but in a healthy way.

The writer director Nagesh Kukunoor failed in presenting normal scenes with life where he achieved that in the metaphorical atmosphere. The normal style story telling fails in its complacency and the first half fail once the initial curiosity is over. The second half was better and made some sense for the entire proceedings.

The evils of modern life style and its influence on all in the society is an excellent piece of art presentation by the director. When the blessed boy hooks to the big pepsi bottle one cannot ignore the thoughts behind and then look around, everybody is addicted in one name or other. The fruits of life which one needs to carry for this healthy life should not be forgotten.

John Abraham gives a very good performance. One may be reminded of No Smoking for his chain smoking but he is pleasant and good. Anaitha Nair got the author backed role and her small role creates a great impact. Good job Anaitha. Sonal Sehgal remains beautiful and just play the role given to her. Master Aswin brings the much needed innocent smile to the character. Rest of the cast did their roles convincingly. Overall performance can be branded as very good.

Music of the film is quite impressive. Passionate and chasing our spirit, they are soulful. Picturisation of songs too is impressive. Dilkash dildaar duniya & Ab mujhko jeena haunt the spirits till last.

Cinematography of the film is a treat to watch. Simply excellent! Waves of lights and beauty of shades frills of darkness and shyness of morning….the camera work is fantastic!!!

Editing could have been better. Ten minutes more to be trimmed, even with its short length.

Live and let live life knowing it and enjoying it. The message is good but the director is only half successful in keeping the film entertaining while the focus moved on to passing the message. This is one film which may be liked by art film lovers (for whom the film is recommended) but not that much by the general audience.