SAAND KI AANKH (2019)

Critic - No.174

Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Produced by: Anurag Kashyap, NidhiParmar, Reliance Entertainment
Casts: Bhumi Pednekar, Tapsee Pannu, Prakash Jha, Vineet Kumar Singh
Language: Hindi
Music: Vishal Mishra (songs), Advat Nemlekar (score)
Genre: Drama

SYNOPSIS:
Saand Ki Aankh depicts the story of the 60 year old sharpshooters, Chandro Tomar and Prakashi Tomar who serve as an inspiration to many women in India who are still trapped under the male chauvinistic ideology and domination.  

REVIEW:
Following the loud voice about feministic view on women’s dream in film like Dangal, Saand Ki Aankh presents the real story of two rural grandmothers who shot to fame due to their sharpshooting achievements in their 60s. The most charming thing about the film is the way it presents the male chauvinistic characters as mere caricatures and the way it sets up how the well-respected men are merely relying on the work of their wife. Tushar also presents grim details such as women being used as baby making machines and given assigned coloured scarfs to identify them. The ideas are blatant, cringeworthily but presented in a well-staged humour. The set ups of the premise is quite strong and what the film really relies on is the string of imaginative situations where it fumbles a little.

Yes, from the words go, we can sense the film’s objective to tell an inspiring story. While Tushar has some crackling fun humour through the course (like the dinner scene with the King or the scene with Sachin missing the train), he stuffs it with a few blatantly preachy scenes where the lead characters abruptly utters long dialogues about women empowerment which are already situationally told in the story. By reaffirming with dialogues (for an instance, intercutting to ‘guns are for men’ sequence countlessly), the writing looks exaggerated and filmy, given the substantial story they have in hand which doesn’t need much pushing to prove its point. Therefore, by the time it hits the ‘multiple’ climax sequences, the idea is oversold. But, yes, Tushar’s surprise in the final dance scene will ensure you that you leave the hall with a smile the makers intended evoke after all.

However, the film compensates with its stellar cast ensemble who distracts us from all the shortcomings the screenplay throws at us. Especially the leading ladies Bhumi and Tapsee who have a given a sincere, spirited performance as Tomar grannies balancing out the vulnerability and the strength of the characters. No one can blame them for looking young at many scenes despite the good make up work but question the studios’ intention to make the film more accessible with younger stars for the box office. Vineet Kumar as the doctor turned coach, is a perfect fit while the antagonist Prakash Jha hits the right chauvinistic tone.

Dramatically, the story stumbles to rhythmically escalate the tension revolved around the stakes of the grannies and their granddaughters as most of the running time is spent on the repeated montages of shooting competitions without much obstacles. The resolution of the film might also feel rushed due to the abrupt change of mind from the chauvinistic men. That said, I really liked the idea of the internal struggles that the granddaughters go through to keep up the name of the Tomar duo. The panchayat scene was also very well crafted as well with Tomars’ outburst from their heart to their husbands for the first time that showed some effective writing from Jagdeep Sidhu.

Acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap should be commended for stepping forward to produce a well-intended film that tells a successful, feministic story from its country. Even though, Saand Ki Aankah imaginatively falls short, it has high chances to hit the right chords for commercial film lovers who don’t mind a little melodrama and predictability.

Bhumi and Tapsee with the real sharp shooters, Tomar duo

 VERDICT: 
Saand Ki Aankh might stagger a little to hit the bull’s eye but offers a crowd-pleasing social commentary backed up by some stellar performances by the lead duo.

CELLULOID METER- 3.25/5: