The short and sweet romance, written by Kausar Munir, tackles some important issues in a straightforward manner.
Baarish Aur Chowmein review: Amit Sadh, Taapsee Pannu are matched well in charming love story
Cinestaan Rating
Release Date: 31 Aug 2018 / 48min
Sonal Pandya | Mumbai, 09 Sep 2018 12:00 IST
A young man, Suresh (Amit Sadh), sits in an old Irani café, spending some quiet time before going back home. In the first few minutes, we discover a number of things about him. He is a man of routine and does not like change. Some would even accuse him of being old-fashioned.
When he returns home, a young woman is already there. His landlord’s step-daughter Neelu (Taapsee Pannu) is cleaning up a mess from a water leak. Suresh rents a room from Datta Ram, a security guard who works nights.
The no-nonsense Neelu is a background dancer in Hindi films. It is clear that Suresh fancies her and Neelu, taking advantage of this, bosses him around. Suresh had arrived in Mumbai nearly two years ago from Lucknow and works as a conservation assistant at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly known as the Prince of Wales Museum).
In flashbacks, we get to know more about their relationship, how they first met and continue to interact. Eventually, after an offhand conversation with a co-worker about mangoes, tea and the importance of names, Suresh gets an idea to propose a job for Neelu.
She has to love him as much as he loves her and, in turn, he will pay her for it. It sounds bad and cheap in theory, but an earnest Sadh makes it work. Surprisingly, Neelu agrees and they begin to spend more time in each other’s company.
At this point, Suresh makes a stunning revelation. His name is not Suresh but Siraj Sayed and he is a Muslim, not Hindu. The way this announcement is deftly handled in the film is indeed a pleasure. It is not dramatized or made melodramatic. The story by Kausar Munir veers back to the heart of the matter, the relationship between Siraj and Neelu.
If you are wondering about the title, it is borrowed from the two things the two lead characters like in Mumbai. Siraj and Neelu are often gabbing about their heart’s desire with eating chowmein in autorickshaws and Siraj is fond of the Mumbai rains. They have their first fight eating chowmein too as Siraj is busy planning their future together, without consulting Neelu in any decision.
When Siraj assumes things beyond what Neelu imagines, they have their worst fight and Neelu gives her notice for the “job”. A dejected Siraj plans a long overdue visit back home to clear his head. Will the couple make up or will they remain at an impasse?
This nearly 50-minute film begins with a dedication to filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee and writer-composer Salil Chowdhury. Baarish Aur Chowmein feels like a departure from producer-director Tigmanshu Dhulia’s recent fare; it is a quieter, more intimate story and that is largely due to Kausar Munir’s insightful writing. The film’s delightful exchanges are a highlight.
Sadh and Pannu are well-matched in the film. The sober Sadh and lively Pannu are opposites who are attracted to each other. Though we know more about Siraj, we learn about Neelu’s hidden desires and ambitions for her life.
As a young Maharashtrian woman living in a chawl, Neelu aims to earn well to support her family and be a dancer on foreign tours. Meanwhile, Siraj is content with his life. He regrets lying about religion to obtain a home in Mumbai but, thankfully, the film deals with it in a matter-of-fact manner.
Although it might feel dated (it looks like it was filmed pre-demonetisation), Baarish Aur Chowmein, which was released online on the ZEE5 platform on 31 August, is a delightful love story and an enjoyable watch for those looking for something different.