Is Love Enough Sir movie review: Loved watching this movie! What a brilliant and sensitive portrayal by two fine artists - kudos! This is a heartwarming story of Ashwin, a rich young man (starring Vivek Gomber) with a privileged background and a young widow (starring Tilottama Shome) who works at his home as a domestic help. Their emotional struggles and social chasm are brought to life.
We are introduced to Ashwin, an aspiring writer who returns from the US and lives in with his girl friend, breaks off their wedding and stays cocooned in his apartment. Through glimpses of a neatly maintained apartment and a functional, super neat kitchen, we see the culinary skills and housekeeping discipline of Ratna, the domestic help, who is employed by Ashwin's mother, referred to as 'Mummyji'.
Ratna's dignity is evident in every word she speaks and every step she takes. Ashwin comes across as a rare gentleman - one who not only respects women in the true sense of the word but is equally aghast that there can ever be a tint of exploitative bias in the growing love towards Ratna, whom he deeply respects.
Be it attending a phone call for her employer, setting a tray or cooking chicken when she is a strict vegetarian, her no-nonsense approach to her daily life routine is commendable. Ratna's every expression is a mastery of the finest artistic craft as she hides her true feelings. Her every action resonates with her employer like ripples across a water body that cannot be contained without causing an effect.
Is Love Enough Sir movie review: Love with a realistic touch
The aesthetic treatment of their relationship is crafted with finesse and sensitivity to show the stigma attached to the growing bond. In a country where marriages are mostly arranged between families of equal economic and social standing, where dowry and gold are part of the bride's wedding trousseau, it is almost unthinkable for a young privileged Indian man from the US falling in love with the house maid. But this movie makes us want to accept their reality, without forcing us to be judgmental about it in the first place. A stroke of cinematic brilliance!
Is Love Enough Sir movie review: Scenes that linger on!
Between scenes, the class barriers between the protagonist are portrayed with realistic perfection. As one friend tells Ashwin "Your mother would not even sit across the table with her" and a desperate Ratna pleads with utter helplessness and a fear of exploitation, "Sir, please don't tell anyone about this".
In a country where crimes against women are committed upon by men who call themselves 'friends', she literally pleads for her own safety and honour to a man whom she respects and trusts. Indeed, a telling sign of the moral degradation in our society where every woman fears the man she loves would betray her to other men.
Without words being spoken, the little details of their watchfulness over the other says it all. Their discomfort is evident even as they are drawn closer to each other.
A striking scene is where Ashwin comes in to check on Ratna, who is seated on the floor and eating with other domestic help at a party in his mother's home, and Ashwin asks her whether he should wait for her.
The sniggers among the domestic help is not missed by Ratna.
A casual 'it doesn't matter to me' from Ashwin shows us that while he is sincere and cares nothing about their social barrier, the one hit hardest from all sides is Ratna herself. She points it out to him that even the slightest hint of 'dishonour' would be enough for her family to drag her back to the village and reinforce her 'widow' status and she would be reduced to nothing.
A romance between two individuals, one from an elite background and another from a rural background, remains a social taboo. The economic, social and cultural ecosystems do not allow anymore for an easy accommodation of an alternative that is acceptable to both parties as the collective will of the society is invoked for the 'larger good'.
I love the fact that the film is non-judgmental throughout its treatment of the developing love and affection between Ashwin and Ratna.
Hours after I finished watching 'Is Love Enough sir', Ratna's expressions linger on.
The finest artistic performances have brought to life such beautiful yet complex characters that stay fully alive.
So intense and real is the power of authenticity in the film's characterisation and story arc.
The twist at the end was totally unexpected.
Don't miss this film!
Comments
Personally for me, I am very pleased that movie making is getting further from the stereotypical boy meets girl love stories which are far too predictable. It is a very good watch indeed.
Personally for me, I am very pleased that movie making is getting further from the stereotypical boy meets girl love stories which are far too predictable. It is a very good watch indeed.