The Indian film industry conjures up images of big dance numbers and plots that are as predictable as the last film, but outside of the Bollywood money-making machine, India produces some quality and memorable films without a song in sight.
The most notable with international success in recent memory would have to be filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s Elements trilogy from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. Her controversial dramas Fire, Earth and Water exposed the darker, lesser known aspects of Indian and/or Hindu culture, focussing on a lesbian relationship, the establishment and separation of Pakistan, and the cruel treatment of child widows respectively. See them all.
In Umrika, writer/director Prashant Nair steers clear of controversy by telling the captivating and oft-amusing story of the American Dream…Indian style.
Opening in the 1970s, eldest son Udai (Prateik Babbar) leaves his poor village of Jitvapur in Northern India to live in America. His mother (Smita Tambe) grieves deeply until letters finally begin to arrive, sharing tall tales and photographs of life in “Umrika” which give hope to all the villagers for a better life, and inspires his younger brother Ramakant to learn to read.
Years later, when their father dies unexpectedly, Ramakant (Life of Pi star Shuraj Sharma) learns that his father has been writing the letters and Udai has never been heard from. With only his best friend Lalu (Tony Revolori, The Grand Budapest Hotel) in the know, Rama sets off to find the people smuggler that was supposed to have helped Udai all those years ago.
This is a beautifully told tale that depicts village life in the 1970s and 1980s and finds a lot of comedy in the idealistic and often ignorant presumptions made about the great Land of Opportunity.
In the background, world history unfolds on television sets, while Rama edges his way closer to the crime lord and the truth about what happened to his brother. Unlike most American films which would use this to break into an action packed thriller, director Nair steers clear of unnecessary bursts of violence and unbelievable action. His plot twists are surprising but he stays focussed on the rhythm and heart of the story. This is ultimately a heart-warming, but far from schmaltzy drama about family with a very touching ending that may, unexpectedly, bring you to tears in the final minute, although not from what you expect.
Comfortably paced, and aimed at an international audience, Umrika is both engrossing and delightful. Spoken in Hindi with English subtitles, it doesn’t presume cultural knowledge. Instead, it takes pleasure teasing its western audience with endless American cultural references, from Indiana Jones to the tragic explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in January 1986.
Recipient of the Audience Award and nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, amongst other gongs, Umrika is sure to win hearts and open your mind about how you think of family too.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 9
Umrika will be released on DVD and Video on Demand on 20 January 2016.
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