I'd just finished watching Nihalani's '1084 ki Maa' and I was both impressed and moved. It tells the story of a mother who, after the sudden death of her son, tries to understand him as she realizes how little she'd known him and this search for truth leads to self-discovery. The son was a member of the 'Naxalite' who was fighting oppression and injustice. He loved his mother very much but keeps this very important fact of his life a secret. While she gradually realizes what a waste her life was, caring for those who showed no respect for her as her own life slips away and the only happiness she had was as a mother to her beloved son.
Nihalani takes his time reciting Mahashweta Devi's novel as he introduces the characters and guides us through Sujata Chatterji's search for the truth. While everyone else in the family try to forget her dead son, Brati, she becomes determined to find the truth and at the same time deal with her grief.
Jaya Bachchan in the title role is somewhat disappointing to an extent. One would have expected much better from an actress of her caliber. This is her comeback on screen after a few decades. Her acting really stands out in the last half hour, and in just a few scenes before that (e.g. the scene where she breaks down when she looks into Brati's room after the raid, or the scene where Anupam Kher is getting a massage). In most of the other scenes it's as if she's trying to think how to act, her expressions are minimal otherwise it looks forced. One would have expected some kind of reaction towards Nandini or Somu's mother's story. However, as I'd mentioned earlier, she does exceptional in all the scenes that proceed when she returns home after meeting Nandini and this, to an extent, makes up for the flaws. I particularly liked her in the scenes during the celebration of the daughter's engagement when she realizes her son's sacrifice and what kind of mockery people were making out of it and also in one of the last scenes when she grabs one of the murderers.
Seema Biswas is excellent as Somu's mother. She definitely owns all her scenes and Nihalani cleverly shows the class distinction between the two mothers, their different way of grieving and how Somu's mother knew more about her son than she did. Sujata was by no means an ignorant mother. She and Brati did indeed share a loving and trusting relationship. But Sujata took it for granted.
Joy Sengupta, Nandita Das and Milind Gunaji are equally brilliant. Sengupta shares a good chemistry with both actresses. Das really gives a balanced performance and her outburst comes across as very natural. Gunaji finally gets a role that does justice to him as an actor. Anupam Kher is adequate.
Cinematography is alright and background score is adequately used. I wouldn't call this a political or melodramatic flick. I didn't mention much else of the plot as I think its best if it's viewed. It's a story that should be told and thanks to Nihalani for beautifully bringing it to screen. A not to be missed film, especially those who truly appreciate real cinema.
Nihalani takes his time reciting Mahashweta Devi's novel as he introduces the characters and guides us through Sujata Chatterji's search for the truth. While everyone else in the family try to forget her dead son, Brati, she becomes determined to find the truth and at the same time deal with her grief.
Jaya Bachchan in the title role is somewhat disappointing to an extent. One would have expected much better from an actress of her caliber. This is her comeback on screen after a few decades. Her acting really stands out in the last half hour, and in just a few scenes before that (e.g. the scene where she breaks down when she looks into Brati's room after the raid, or the scene where Anupam Kher is getting a massage). In most of the other scenes it's as if she's trying to think how to act, her expressions are minimal otherwise it looks forced. One would have expected some kind of reaction towards Nandini or Somu's mother's story. However, as I'd mentioned earlier, she does exceptional in all the scenes that proceed when she returns home after meeting Nandini and this, to an extent, makes up for the flaws. I particularly liked her in the scenes during the celebration of the daughter's engagement when she realizes her son's sacrifice and what kind of mockery people were making out of it and also in one of the last scenes when she grabs one of the murderers.
Seema Biswas is excellent as Somu's mother. She definitely owns all her scenes and Nihalani cleverly shows the class distinction between the two mothers, their different way of grieving and how Somu's mother knew more about her son than she did. Sujata was by no means an ignorant mother. She and Brati did indeed share a loving and trusting relationship. But Sujata took it for granted.
Joy Sengupta, Nandita Das and Milind Gunaji are equally brilliant. Sengupta shares a good chemistry with both actresses. Das really gives a balanced performance and her outburst comes across as very natural. Gunaji finally gets a role that does justice to him as an actor. Anupam Kher is adequate.
Cinematography is alright and background score is adequately used. I wouldn't call this a political or melodramatic flick. I didn't mention much else of the plot as I think its best if it's viewed. It's a story that should be told and thanks to Nihalani for beautifully bringing it to screen. A not to be missed film, especially those who truly appreciate real cinema.