Sonali Cable Hindi Movie
The debates about the big fish eating up the small fishes in the retail word has often been a part of many a recent discussions that I have been a part of. While some argue that the small retailer needs to flourish because it creates employment at the grassroots, others accept that the corporates are the way to go. Sonali Cable with its promos probably promised to show the acute competition in one such scenario - the badass world of cable television.
With a script that was selected for the Mumbai Mantra-Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab 2012, Sonali Cable did promise a lot. Did it then do what it guaranteed to do? Not quite.
Rhea plays Sonali, a spunky owner of a small time internet service provider. She is hard working and provides her customers with that extra care that keeps them happy. Apart from work she also has the special someone - Raghu (Ali Fazal). The hunky-dory changes to not so bright when the big company Shinning and Raghu's politician mother team up to create a monopoly in the business. Small time service providers make way, but Sonali won't! However this is about all that you would probably find about war of supremacy.
Rather Sonali Cable turns into more about Sonali then cable. Forced romantic and comic scenes do not do any good. Screenplay is inconsistent and needed much more work.
Second time is as many weeks that we have a TV director making it into films. Charudutt Acharya of course is not entirely new to the world of films having written films such as Nautanki Saala and Vaastu Shashtra. He seems adept at handling a story, but let's down when it comes to handling his characters. There are stereotypes by bundles.
Good part about characters - pretty authentic. Not so good part - language issues. When lead Rhea speaks Marathi she is not half as convincing as Saif Ali Khan was in Humshakals. Though charming, she does need to grow as an actress. Ali Fazal is good, albeit not given the best of roles. Raghav Juyal has a far better role in comparison. He looks convincing enough. Unfortunately the director seems to have cast him more to make him dance than emote; most of it unnecessary. Anupam Kher returns to the over-the-top after a crafty Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami only last week. And though he is good, his character is rather jarring.
Sonali Cable is a fun one time watch. However if you delve deeper, this David vs Goliath saga fails to connect. You would not walk away with anything. Definitely not a thought about the big players eating out the small players in each industry! One more example where an idea did not quite make it to the screen as it should have been.
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