The Blueberry Hunt

Naseeruddin Shah at his one of the bests. Due to poor critics' reviews, he might have said that he regrets doing the movie, but he had the charisma to pull it off. It's a journey of a rebel, trying to fight off unwanted trespassers from his land of sweat and blood. A story that depicts, how the circumstances, extract the other side of you. Totally different one, an unpredictable one. Watch if you like twisted serenity, in the womb of the magical nature. It just captures you, right away! Aahana Kumra does not underacts, neither does it over. She was able to convince her character. Kuttanpan, you rock..! It was worth my time, each and every frame of it. 8/10

This movie has been getting a lot of flake from the community and I must say. I don't get it. It's not a bad film by any measure. Sure, it has a unusual premise and theme. Not to mention it isn't really a narrative focused film. It's more about the relationships the characters share with each other in the film, especially in the case of Jaya and Colonel. Since it is essentially an indie film, it has some obvious cost cutting. But more on that later.

The central theme of growing Cannabis in the hilly region of Vagamon in Kerala has been accused as unrealistic. The truth is, and this is coming from a Keralite, is that Cannabis plantations are alive and well in Kerala. Especially in the high-range areas like Idukki and Wayanad. The gangs trying to steal the Cannabis? Pretty plausible as well.

I said earlier that this isn't a narrative focused film. It really isn't. The audience is expected to pay attention to the dialogues and take backstories and subplots from that. The performances in this film are good. Naseeruddin Shah is great as always. The others range from average, Jaya, to below average.

Cost cutting. There is always a saying when it comes to film-making. It is better to show than tell. Instead of telling us the story of the Colonel and his elusive lover, there is a bit of hinting and people playing North-East Indian instruments. Some of the camera movements are also very jerky.

All in all, it's an enjoyable film. I was very happy to see Nasseruddin Shah back in Kerala, last was in Ponthan Mada, and speaking Malayalam. A certain degree of disbelief is needed. But trust me, random guy you just met on the internet, it's worth it.

It's nice , open ended and had my imagination running. It is hard to see such fine movies being made in India. People need to understand that not everything should be perfect, complete, and "in India's case" Overdramatised.

Plot was focused only on the immediate situation and didn't offer any unnecessary explanations.

The film is visually appealing, given the locations and character styling.

Somewhere high up in the rolling velvety hills above Vagamon a Rastafarian man lives with his pet dog, a rifle and a three screens of security cameras that tells him whenever a trespasser crosses over into his 30 acre farm.

The striking Naseeruddin Shah plays the solitude-loving farmer who secretly grows a powerful version of marijuana that he is days away from harvesting.

This arresting cinematic persona has a love in Bombay he is nostalgic about and a past involving some tribal woman from the North East.

The fearsome Colonel Naseer plays kills at least three different assassins expressly sent to kill him and buries them in his vast land after a languorous digging exercise with beer and dog for company. These dead men are expressly placed across India. Then, a Bihari drug pusher delivers a kidnapped girl from Bombay for safe-keeping with the Marijuana growing cowboy farmer.

These are the tantalizingly established core of a story Independent director Anup Kurian writes and directs. He then packs this premise with so many tentacles that deliberately go nowhere. That is creative ambition rarely seen on film.

While the languorousness of the rolling hills, the charming landscape captured in long Bullet rides cutting past elephants strolling along, is wrought well enough, the menace of the constantly at threat from "enemies I do not have" rebel farmer slips away.

Even the elements of the Colonel's hinted-at past, both romantic and troubling, tend to fizzle away because the Colonel comes across more as a leisurely hedonist rather than troubled man. Too many intriguing leads remain unexplained, for example the series of fake identification cards he stocks. These bits glint, but usually in natural light.

Perhaps, to establish a storytelling route of hints and possibilities, the cinematography should have benefitted if it worked a little more on setting moods cinematically. Most of the times, Naseer is voicing his moods, adding more daylight to mute the glints that the film hopes to ignite.

The film's mature, muted drama works brilliantly, especially in its unhurried and subtle humour, the verdant surroundings slowly take over this film. The dashingly original character misses engagement with any of the many dramatic possibilities that trespass into his life despite a loaded gun.

And yet this is a film one should not miss. None of the mainstream papers reviewed the film. It has had only a limited release. It showcases a new strand a little away from the Wasseypur and Ishqiya type of engagement with rural chic in glitzy, gimmicky urban dress. It focuses on urbane existence far from cities that is so self-assured it does not even acknowledge the city.

A pointless movie at best. Worst use of Naseeruddin's talent. A nothing movie. Really! Thin story line that snaps abruptly. Unrealistic setting.

The movie starts on a promising note. And then it declines continuously. Even acting is mediocre - just proving the point that actors can only take a plot less movie so far.

Thankfully there are no songs! I wish I had some spoilers. The only spoiler is that you'd say at the end of the movie "it's over?".

Can't really think of anything commendable about the movie. Don't see. Even for Naseeruddin's sake. Although if you are a die hard fan, he looks young for his age. But sir - what were you thinking when you signed up for this movie?

As they say in India - a Bakwaas bundle movie.