Gali Guleiyan

Watched GaliGuleiyan absolutely by accident because saw Manoj Bajpayee poster - star power working here! I had no idea what I was getting into.

Soon I realised that I was in for a treat and this was not some ordinary bollywood flick. It compelled me to pause and search for the credentials. It seems young turk Dipesh Jain (seems to be an American Indian with promising work he has already churned out) is director/producer. And what a star-cast that greeted me - Ranvir Shorey, Neeraj Kabi, Shahana Goswami to name a few. There are foreign contributions in the other departments of the film too - Music, Editing and Cinematography to name a few.

It is a story of a loner, disturbed and s suffering individual who is clearly disoriented and lives in a dingy solitude. Throughout the movie the Lighting, Cinematography and Direction creates cringeworthy atmosphere making you feel as if you should just get-up and clean Khuddoos (Manoj) and his place - power of creativity and conveying exactly what is intended. Movie slows down to a halt - resonating with life that Khuddoos lives. At time you want to hit the FF button but, the detailing stops you. You are sure to miss out on the detail because the Direction and the whole package is so brilliant.

And of course the wait pays. The flip in the last five minutes is so unexpected, unassuming and deeply moving. Then you recollect the whole movie backwards and the things fit so well, so flawless and so seamless that it keeps you in awe and wonder.

Not the for the people with short attention-span and habituated of the usual masala - this ones for the patient ones who love the blandness to enjoy the last morsel!

Thanks for the treat Gali Guleiyan team.

The film is a psychological drama about a man who is trapped within the city walls and in his own mind. He attempts to break free to find a human connection.

A movie with great depth, with great visual and experiential story telling. As the character goes through a maze of madness, you as an audience are pulled into it, while coming across a really important message. It was a thoroughly immersive experience.

Manoj Bajpayee Delivers Outstanding Performance.

The best of cinema, the best of acting, the best of storyline, this movie offers the best of everything! I am not a critic, only an art lover. But while watching this film, I couldn't set my eyes off it even for a second. Great performances by all the actors, especially Manoj Vajpayee. And the issue raised is the important of all!

Individuals want to escape when they come to know the reality around them. Great script and well directed. We need more movies like that.

IN THE SHADOWS (GALI GULEIYAN, 2017) shares a similar spirit with SALAAM BOMBAY (1988) and SHADOWS OF TIME (2004), but not in the same league. It has a brilliant idea (interweaving a man's past and present, to manifest how cruel reality's firm grip on a little poor guy is), wonderful acting and a production team doing good job. Nevertheless, it is seriously hampered by the thin and somewhat unconvincing plot.

The biggest hole of the story, in my opinion, is that the gentle boy decided, and dare, to kill the much stronger ruler of the family. Based on what the director showed to the audience, the boy got slapped and kicked for a short while (for understandable reason). If that could have been the cause of patricide, probably half of Indian parents were dead already (not to be disrespect to peoples of India, but just making a point here). Harsh discipline was quite common in last century's Asia. Of course, violence in any form is not "right," truth is it still exist even today, in lower class, in developing countries. The father in ITS seemed abstemious, given the circumstances.

There is another problematic issue in the screenplay. Since the boy realized the father cheated on the mother, would that be the cause of patricide? It surely fueled the boy's resentment, but hardly enough to instigate murder against a man double his size. The boy is far from tough, otherwise he would be running away long ago.

After the murder, the boy should be kept in institution for a period of time. Then, how come he was back to the slum again? Why did his mother let him go back (we all know how much she loves him)? Why did the affluent friend let him go back (we all know how kind and helpful this friend is)? As a long time resident he must be infamous around, it's unnatural that no one shows any emotion (eg scared, annoyance or trying to make fun) towards this weirdo and murderer. He set up dozen of cameras on neighbors' doorway for YEARS and no one noticed? ..... Too many illogical and unrealistic "holes" reduced ITS to near mediocrity. It is really unfortunate for all participated talents.

Last but not least, IN THE SHADOWS is entitled to be considered a decent movie, for audience with patience and sympathy. If taking out "entertaining" elements on the marking sheet, it should be regarded higher than SLUMDOG BILLIONAIRE (2009).