What Is the Story About?
Chumbak is a Marathi film that centres on 15-year-old Balu (Sahil Jadhav), a young restaurant worker, and his monetary struggles to realise his dream of opening his own juice stall. His entrepreneurial ambition leads him to con dimwitted Prasanna (Swanand Kirkire) out of his paltry savings, with the help of Balu’s friend Disco (Sangram Desai). Does Balu’s inherent goodness allow him to pull a fast one on the simpleton Prasanna, or does he dispense with his morals to go through with his deceitful plan? Chumbak is directed by National Award-winning director Sandeep Modi, and produced by Kyra Kumar Kreations and Akshay Kumar’s Cape of Good Films.
Performances?
Sahil Jadhav and Sangram Desai render honest, realistic and earnest performances as the two young lads, fending for themselves in the dog-eat-dog world of Mumbai. Sahil Jadhav in particular is eminently watchable as Balu, bringing urgency to his central role. It is Swanand Kirkire, however, who walks away with all the accolades. He is superb as the intellectually-challenged Prasanna, succeeding in infusing the character with a heart-rending vulnerability.
Analysis
Chumbak is a heartwarming film and an aberration of sorts in the current trend of creating content that is overwhelmingly dark, edgy and disturbing. Chumbak boasts a story that is sweet, unhurried and fulfilling to watch, except for a few over-stretched portions in the film.
Swanand Kirkire’s Prasanna steals your heart, making you involuntarily wish for nothing bad to happen to the man. But then, as the plot unfolds, you also know in your heart of hearts that fate will knock some sense into the two young boys who plan to swindle the man, and things will work out just fine in the end.
Well, things do turn out fine, but not before three gold chains have been stolen, considerable sums of money have been lost and matters have been on the verge of unravelling in the worst ways possible. As the story progresses, the narrative also makes you realise that Balu’s past holds a forbidding reality – veering into dark territory of farmers’ suicides and the like.
Yet, writer-director Sandeep Modi never lets the story get too drab or dreary. There’s always an undercurrent of hope in the proceedings, a certain joie de vivre that dispels the sense of despair that threatens to overtake the story at times.
That apart, Chumbak could have done with some ruthless chopping off of unnecessary and overdrawn sequences – the one in the ATM, and Balu’s extended interaction with his uncle, for instance. The story could easily have been told in a crisp hour or so of runtime. It is several minutes too long as of now, to its own detriment.
Overall, Chumbak is a sweet film—not syrupy sweet, mind you, but a film that is all heart. Watch it if you like slow, agreeable films. But if you’re the kind who thrives on thrill-a-minute entertainment, Chumbak is not your cup of tea.
Music and Other Departments?
Rangarajan Ramabadran’s cinematography captures the rustic Maharashtra countryside in ways that are pleasing to the eye. Saket Kanetkar’s background score is soothing and understated. The lone Marathi song in the film is delightful to hear. Chandrashekhar Prajapati’s editing is efficient.
Highlights?
Swanand Kirkire’s performance
Sweet, unhurried storytelling
Drawbacks?
Tad longer than necessary
Few over-stretched sequences
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, though it is a bit slow
Will You Recommend It?
Not everyone’s cup of tea. Only recommended for fans of sweet, simple storytelling
Chumbak Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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