Counterfeit Kunkoo review: Visually striking short highlights lack of space for women in cities

Reema Sengupta’s independent short film, Counterfeit Kunkoo, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this February where it was the first short in the official selection from India after 15 years.

Since then, the film has travelled to over 50 festivals from Australia to the Ukraine, picking up numerous awards. It was screened in Mumbai for the first time as part of the competition section at the 9th Jagran Film Festival.

In 15 minutes, Counterfeit Kunkoo effectively and concisely puts across the struggle and frustrations of single men and women across India who are tartly told, “Sorry, no bachelors allowed”, when they go to rent a house.

Smita Nikam (a wide-eyed Kani Kusruti), after leaving her abusive husband (Vijay Verma), finds herself in need of a place to stay. A new rule in her housing society forces her out of her one-room flat, and as she begins her search for an alternative place to stay, she is asked again and again, “Where is your husband?”

These are the little humiliations single women and especially wives separated from their husbands must endure when seeking accommodation in a city. It could be any city they have chosen to live in, or even a city they have lived in their whole lives.

For Sengupta, also a music video director, the short was inspired by her mother’s own struggle when things did not work out in her marriage and she was forced to find her own place. Sengupta captures Smita’s growing desperation and inner resilience with a keen eye and has edited certain sequences to show the growing injustices meted out to her.

She and cinematographer Harshvir Oberai have framed the artistes, especially Kani Kusruti, in eye-catching compositions. It draws you into Smita's world where she literally feels the walls closing in on her.

Actress Kusruti, with only a few words and plenty of wide-eyed expressions, makes you care for Smita and her plight. Vijay Verma, who is making a habit of being cast as despicable characters, does a good job as the sleazy husband.

Written, directed and edited by Reema Sengupta, Counterfeit Kunkoo is a fine and promising debut of a filmmaker we would like to see more of. It incorporates Mumbai’s claustrophobic locales to good use to put forth Smita’s dire situation.

Counterfeit Kunkoo was screened at the 9th Jagran Film Festival on 30 September 2018.