Toeing the established line

An extravagantly produced short, inspired by the book Samajik Samrasta on Narendra Modi, this film is a dressed-up reveal of the many mysteries about the boy who grew up to become Prime Minister of India. Director Hadawale uses Swami Vivekananda’s quote “Wahi jeete hain jo doosron ke liye jeete hain” to preface this conceit and frame Naru’s (as he is referred to in the film) childhood years.

Set in the post-Independence era, shot on location in Vadodara, the film is a gritty and gainful attempt to chronicle the events that supposedly inspired a young boy to lead the country. “Who do I live for?” asks young Naru (Dhairya Darji) in the opening moments, but his parents brush his curiosity aside and ask him to seek his answers from his teacher in school. Director Mangesh Hadawale follows the route of least resistance in framing this obviously fictionalised account inspired by true events.

The purpose behind this exercise and the veracity of what it is trying to project may be questionable, but the treatment is gravitating nevertheless.

Generally obviating facts with some fancy camerawork, rugged realism and vivid performances, this film decidedly builds a halo around the young boy and his search for meaning. By overusing fiction to obscure facts, Hadawale may have done a disservice to the biopic genre – but there’s no doubting his craft. This film is fairly well made with competent technical specs and a riveting narrative structure.