Review of Udaan (2010) by Mayankesh J — 21 Jul 2010

Udaan means flight ... and this one really takes off.. Fresh and powerful it gets down and dirty in the industrial grind of Jamshedpur. The hot melting steel symbolizes the simmering tensions between the pig headed father and the, aspiring writer forced to study engineering, son. The little innocent step brother who stands by watching and suffering the consequences of the "rebel vs rock" standoff.

In the backdrop of small town India, the poetry of the rebel takes on the running prowess of the father. The sons stories win hearts, while the father's beatings only gets evryone around him bruises, physical and mental. Ronit roy, whom I had no idea could act plays the truant to perfection. The little step brother played b newcomer ayan is a revelation. He has less to say but so much expression. Sadness, subtle smiles, mischievous smirks.. he is the the twist of lime in this sweet and sour concoction. Ramesh Barmecha as the rebel poet and storyteller who wants to break free takes us all back to the days when we thought we could change the world. He yearns to be with his friends, the sight of his authoritarian father chokes and strangles him. His poetry, his most powerful weapon fails to dent the armor of the stone hearted father even though it wins the heart of everyone else around him. He becomes the anchor of support for his brother, the beacon of hope for his uncle and favorite storyteller of people he meets. The script is tight, and filled with repetitive sequences: the morning jog/race, the steel factories, the sleepy residential area and the confines of the house form a tight environment for a classic buildup of emotions and gives enough room for all the actors to showcase what they have to offer.

The occasional phone call to his distant friends from boarding school is the only escape from the environment the rebel is confined in. The rebel is angry, standoffish but not stupid.. He pretends to walk on the line his father has drawn for him but manages to swagger and drift away when the rock is not watching. Anurag Kashyap has outdone himself with the script and he is definitely the most talented write in India right now. Addressing multiple issues of peer and parent pressure in India to follow the beaten path, child abuse and family relationships, it amazing kashyap manages to do justice to all the genres with 3 characters and a tight script. Its definitely a breath of fresh air and a welcome departure from all the chopra/johar fluff that seems to have crept in to so called "new age " indian cinema. Coming of age , made in India style... this is a one helluva film...