Adding to the list of films based in small-towns and their middle-class families, GONE KESH firstly deserves appreciation for its choice of subject or theme that has never been explored before in a Hindi film. Recently a Kannada film beautifully presented a closely related plot aptly titled ONDU MOTTEYA KATHE meaning Story of Egghead in 2017. But this is the first time a Hindi film has been based upon the theme of baldness and that too focusing on a female lead instead of the male making it a truly brave attempt.
Next GONE KESH scores for its realistic execution/direction and natural performances superbly led by Shweta Tripathi in the role of a young girl suffering from alopecia (baldness in an early age). Enacting the character getting victimised for no fault of her, Shweta slowly makes an emotional connect with the viewers with her innocent smile and so do her parents played by Vipin Sharma and Deepika Amin. Though in some particular sequences you do feel as they are overdoing it (like in the scenes shot in various doctors’ clinics), but overall, they still remain likable fighting with the unexpected situation with grace, patience and courage. On the other hand, the most natural act in the supporting cast comes from Jitendra Kumar as the silent lover (whom you must have seen in many impressive web-series).
As a debutant director Qasim Khallow certainly makes a worth noticing film choosing such a complex subject along with an innovative title with the word-play and then presenting it with an appreciable simplicity, brilliantly visualising the middle-class environment through his well-written believable characters. Particularly loved the way he presented the workplace of Shweta’s father running a roadside watch-shop, the daily life of people working in the showrooms of a mall, the doctor’s clinic and a roadside momo-vendor naming his shop as Wong Kar-Wai (a famous director of World Cinema).
The soundtrack of the film also tries to make an impression with some average songs written as per the theme including the one wherein the lyricist borrows the first line from Mirza Ghalib as “Dil Dhoondhta Hai Phir Wahi Fursat Ke Raat Din” for his own fresh song with a new composition, different from the one Madan Mohan and Gulzar created in their MAUSAM.
With a decent camerawork and a background score that could have been better, GONE KESH made in a limited budget, no doubt deserves its own share of praises for the reasons mentioned above. But sadly it falls short of being an excellent film too, due to some major shortcomings stated below.
The biggest drawback of the film is that it reveals it all in its first scene itself (when you are not prepared yet) and thus doesn’t have that shock value essentially required in such subjects pulling the viewers in.
Adding to the same, the film’s non-linear narrative repeatedly going back into flashbacks actually confuses the viewers, as the editing doesn’t explain it all and remains abrupt in its cuts, jumping back in the timeline and then coming back.
As seen in several recent films, once again the writers throw in a competition/reality contest to reach the conclusion which is no more innovative or interesting tried in every other film. Personally speaking, this competition thing seems to be the last resort of the writers as they add it when they cannot think of anything else, bringing in all predictable elements which actually ruin the film instead of enhancing it further.
In fact, this confusing narrative and predictability factor only limits GONE KESH to just a light-hearted feel good venture, whereas it could easily have been an important motivational film to say the least. A film conveying a precious lesson to the youngsters about believing in themselves beyond the physical appearance and the value of parents, the family and the close friends in such uncertain decisive developments in life.
Having said that, it still conveys the message though in a feeble manner, so surely deserves to be given a chance supporting the brave attempt. At the same time GONE KESH certainly would have been a much more impressive debut film, if it was presented with a linear narrative.
Rating : 3 / 5
