Same old story of uneven quality in new anthology
ALTHOUGH collecting contrasting stories based on a similar theme and presenting them in an anthology of short films seems like a good idea, the experiment usually fails because it’s difficult to get creative talents that are as good as each other.
The result is an uneven collection of good and bad short films, which has pretty much been the case with anthology releases in India. The latest of these is new Netflix movie Ajeeb Daastaans, which features two good and two not-so-great stories.
Geeli Pucchi is by far the best of the four short films. Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari deliver excellent performances as two women from contrasting backgrounds who form an unexpected connection, which leads to some stark home truths about caste and gender identity.
Shefali Shah delivers an excellent performance in the simple but sensitive drama Ankahee, which is about an unhappily married mother of a child losing her hearing, and the bond she develops with a deaf-mute photographer. Although Ankahee doesn’t rise fully to its potential, it has a simple beauty most will appreciate.
Meanwhile, Manju unsuccessfully attempts to tell the story of simmering passions, with an unloved new bride trying to find love away from her seemingly dangerous husband. There isn’t really anything new with this film, which largely hinges on Fatima Sana Shaikh’s character, but it fails to make an impression despite her spirited performance.
Nushrat Bharuccha has excellent presence in Khilauna, but this exploration between the gap that exists between the rich and their hired help is not as clever as perhaps the creative team imagined, and is another missed opportunity.
Like other anthologies it is a hit-and-miss affair, with Geeli Pucchi being the one worth watching.