When Faith contradicts Conscience. Review on Water

While analysing a political view, a product or for that matter the success/failure or ability/inability of another person that you are aware of.  Most of the times we find ourselves in a situation

where faith wins over conscience. Very rarely, our conscience has the ultimate say. And all these times we accept such events by consoling that Yes "Thats the only appropriate option left."

To some extent, let me accpet the fact that I had the same faith(or false belief?) with regards to Deepa Mehta’s kind of themes. The earlier two movies od Mrs. Mehta that I watcehd were for some evident reasons(Fire and Earth). Thankfully Dusky Das was there to keep me glued both the times.

Come to think of Water. Had no inclination partly due to the missing Das and the rest due to the access to hundreds of Hollywood classics which I better prefer before I lose the oppurtunity. Last week, chanced upon WATER at my local DVD store amongst the foreign movie section which is based on exactly the kind of predicament that one of the characters in the movie questions. "What if Faith contradicts Conscience?" considering we are always told to follow our beliefs in trying circumstances.

The movie is primarily based on the experiences of the 9 year old widow, Chuhiya who happens to be the protaganist as well. Also, it traverses through the emotions of other three widows that Chuhiya comes across through the length of the movie. To summarize, the director tried to portray the lives of widows in a so called ashram wherein some realise and try to lead normal Life and fail and while others..... You better watch.

Deepa Mehta and her team had done an excellent job. Unlike in her earlier experiments, DM did not have to use any vividly lusty scenes to catch the attention of the audience or to convey her message. But the way she made the movie, the script, the subtle dialogues, the flow, etc O Boy, was it commendable.? Oh yes!! Absolutely, never mind winning the Oscar. She deserved to be there. Kudos to the whole team.

Performances by one and all are laudable too and of course worth mentioned. Chuhiya played by Sarala is quintessential as the 9 year old innocent girl. Its even great after realising that Sarala did not use any help for her dialogues.. Sarala is a Sri Lankan who did not know HIndi/English before the making of this film. She is just perfect being the chirpy, innocent and full of tantrums when required. Her cheesy smile during the lupa chuppi scene of Kalyani and Narayan makes it more likeable. Otherwise a typical scene.

Lisa Ray plays the role of Kalyani, the widow in the ashram who is being prostituted by the ashram head, Madhumati on the pretext of supporting the ashram. For the character of Kalyani, one would need lot of talent/effort to portray through her acting abilites that Kalyani is unpolluted at heart in the filthy pond created by the surroundings. Her innocent facial expressions or her mannerisms even in denial (not being melodramatic and loud) make her a talent not fully exploited. Seems like the Afreen Afreen dreamgirl has come a long way. Fortunately, I managed to watch quite a few movies of this canadian from the Toronto suburbs.

Seema Biswas as Shakuntala has a very important role to play, one that can be identified by in general where she had accepted that its her fate to suffer. I thought she did extremely well by the way her character evolves and questions the contradiction of faith and conscience. The other impressive part of her talent is visible by the never ending stare Shakuntala gives  at the end which conveys a mixed feeling of hope and sadness at the same time.(more of sadness though).

Rest of the supporting cast was impressive too.. be it the Madhumati played by Manorama(in her 70s), a veteran for whom this was her 1301st appearance in movies or Dr. Javalgekar(again in her 70s) as Patiraj for whom this was her first acting experience (also the only widow who remembers her marriage as a child because that was the last and only time she ever had her favourite sweets) or Raghuvir Yadav as the eunuch who keeps reminding what was India like in ’30s. or John Abraham as Narayan, the love interest of Kalyani. or Vinay Pathak as Narayan’s friend who loves the Colonial rule more than the his own.

Technically, wouldn’t be surprised if it were to be in most of the categories as well if only Water was released in India for larger audience. Camera work and cinematography is amazingly different and classy. Camera does not move all the time when dialogues are being delivered. lets the Actors perform without actors worrying about camera position while at other times, it does and keep the main characters at a distance(not too close) so as to get the  broader picture of the conversation. Lights are used minimal but very effective. Some of the scenes are breathtaking regardless of night or day shoot. The nature and beautiful locales of Sri Lanka are captured in the most visual way so as to create the perfect ambience of an Indian town at dawn besides Ganges.

Mentionable are the makeshift sets created by the production designer, Dilip Mehta. At some places we see the effect of Sri lankan lifestyle but overall the sets are unbelievably aesthetic.

The background score and music for songs by two different accomplished composers complements the flow of the movie. Songs are there in the background to convey emotions or the celebrations. Not really really great if heard out of context but do linger for a while. How can the same guy compose LOrds of the rings and Hindi Film Music at the same time? He is something!! (Note that the ways of composing music and the kind of music is totally different in Hollywood/Western and Bollywood).

THe background score throughout the movie is attention-grabbing, may be due to the fact that it being an experiment by a Westerner of mixing Raaga based music with western instruments. Whatever its captivating to say the least. Do watch out for the score based on Kalyani Raag when Kalyani returns back to Ganges after realising the harsh truth.

If you think you can’t stand a slow and depressing movie even though very realistically and magnificently made, don’t even bother. All in all, a well made movie, worth a try. If you liked Chandni Bar, you might just like it.

Its not glamourous but its CINEMA and that too with a WOW factor.

@ Njoy.com