In an industry so driven by star power, 2017 has been a breath of fresh air with prolific actors in supporting roles carrying the films on their shoulders. Films like Jolly LLB 2, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Bareilly Ki Barfi has shown the strength of an ensemble cast and made the industry realize that film making is not a one man show. Going against this formula is Hansal mehta’s Simran- a film so obsessed with its lead actress that she is present in every frame of the film. While Queen had Lisa Haydon playing a great supporting part, in Simran the only supporting character you care for post the film is the friendly bartender in vegas, who has a two minute appearance. The main supporting characters are all one note – the frustrated father, the emotionally fragile mother, the caring partner, the stereotypical colleagues and such caricaturish villians that it is hard to care for any of these people. And this is where Simran falters.
Simran is the story of Praful Patel (Kangana Ranaut), a 30 year old divorced woman who works as a cleaning staff in a hotel and dreams of buying her own house. On a trip to Vegas, when she loses all her money, she comes under a lot of debt and is forced to find newer ways of earning money. Hansal Mehta is known for making dark, gritty, doomed stories which are a reflection on the shambles of society. Shahid was about the hypocrisy of the justice system, Citylights about the brutality of migration, Aligarh on homophobia. Simran is a commentary on the lost American dream, the societal lookout on an independent Indian woman and the misplaced fear on brown people post 9/11.
These themes have been handled lightly and film has some genuinely funny scenes- especially one where she asks her parents about the upbringing of the mysterious robber or when she questions the society that her father is concerned about. But many of the funny moments have already been given out in the trailer. And that leaves us with many jokes which feel forced. The best scene in the film comes not from a comic moment but a serious one- when at a gas station, Praful’s card is declined and she frantically searches for cash in her bag. The desperation and anguish is done pitch perfectly and the film could have done with more of such dramatic moments. But the film struggles with identity crisis- it can’t seem to decide if it wants to be a comedy or a serious film and this is most evident in the second half when things become so absurd that you will find your eyes rolling.
The film has its strengths- the cinematography by Anuj rakesh Dhawan which makes the film look beautiful- the arching shots of autumn colors and tall trees against the backdrop of the clear sky serve as a metaphor for freedom against Praful’s claustrophobic life. The background music has been used to good effect and the songs are pleasant, never coming in way of the narrative. In a move away from traditional Hansal Mehta films, the film is edited linearly and the film does not bore you for most part. But what Simran benefits from most is the acting by Kangana Ranaut, who nails her portrayal of the NRI Gujarati girl Be it the jarring accent or the innocence and charm Kangana manages to rise above the writing and make the film bearable. She is the only reason to buy a ticket for the film, but do remember this is no ‘Queen’!
Rating- 2.5 Stars
The Commentator 