Umrika review: Stirring journey to reach land of opportunity

Film: Umrika (U)
Rating: 4/5

The 2015 Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award-winner Umrika finally releases in the country in which it is set. While the film references the ‘American dream’ fantasised about by millions around the world, it is not just about the land of opportunity but about the journey undertaken by its lead characters.

Writer-director Prashant Nair places his story in the mid-1970s in the fictional village of Jitvapur where a young man, Udai (Prateik), sets out to cross the seas over to ‘Umrika’, as the USA is called in the film and by many Indians. The whole village watches as his family, including his tearful mother (Smita Tambe), bid him goodbye. This is the last time his younger brother Ramakant sees Udai.

As time passes, no word is forthcoming from Udai. His mother is quite distraught, until, one day, a letter arrives detailing his new life in an unknown country. The letter is a lifeline for his mother and a window to a whole new world for the village. They all gather together to hear Udai’s stories of the  mysterious Umrika.

Ramakant (Suraj Sharma) grows up as the dutiful younger son, though forever in the shadow of Udai. When his father dies suddenly, responsibility falls on his young shoulders and he realises some hard, bitter truths. It is now his turn to leave the village, take care of his mother, and find his brother.

In the second half of Umrika, the story picks up pace as a certain urgency comes through. Ramakant and his mischievous friend Lalu (Tony Revolori) navigate their way through the big bad city and come into contact with the mysterious and shady Patel (Adil Hussain) who will be their guide to Umrika.

For his first Hindi film, Life Of Pi’s Suraj Sharma shines at the emotional centre of the film. He wants to do right by his family and goes through many personal obstacles to make that happen. The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Revolori, as Ramakant’s best friend, is a surprising casting choice, but he seems completely at ease in the film.

The rest of the film’s ensemble cast, including Hussain, Rajesh Tailang as the postman, and Amit Sial as their city liaison are all strong in their roles. Prateik has a small but important role as Sharma’s brother whose presence looms large in everything that Ramakant does.

Umrika is set in the time of the Emergency; it is economic hardship that forces the characters to take drastic steps to change their lives. The film is aided by the nostalgic score which brings back memories of that period. Nair references both America and India when he incorporates disparate cultural items as Indiana Jones and Usha Khanna’s song ‘Tere Jaisa Pyara Koi Nahin’ into the film.

In his second film after Delhi In A Day (2011), Prashant Nair weaves together a compelling narrative that eventually brings Umrika to an uneasy end. Nair demonstrates that despite the vast differences between the cultures and their perceptions of each other, they are actually very alike underneath.

Take a week off from the usual Hindi movie fare and follow Ramakant as he chases after the land of opportunity.

Director: Prashant Nair
Writer: Prashant Nair
Producers: Swati Shetty, Manish Mundra
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Tony Revolori, Prateik, Smita Tambe, Adil Hussain, Rajesh Tailang
Music: Dustin O'Halloran
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Runtime: 99 minutes