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Anu very different movie than I thought. I came to it from the wrong point of view, I thought it would be a children’s film. Adapted from the children’s novel I am looking for Bapu, this will not be a movie for adults. From the very beginning, Sudeshna Sen he takes a very confident, humble stance on the sensitive subject of the film. There is nothing naive or gullible about the approach to death. The film firmly pulls off a fascinating cross between a children’s book and an adaptation that feels much more mature than it should.

Anu It tells the story of Anu, a 12-year-old girl who has a close relationship with her grandfather, Bapu. The relationship is much more significant than the relationship with your parents. But Bapu dies suddenly and the whole family is forced to face the loss. At the center, Anu firmly accepts the void and does her best to “reclaim” the presence of her beloved grandfather. This leads Anu on a dramatic journey of dealing with irreparable loss, which allows her to explore many of the foundations of her Indian background. The religious and cultural setting is big enough to be the film’s most important vehicle through which certain things could be resolved.

In developing the approach to the film, it is important that the director stays away from the element of false hope. Anu, of course, is the one who suffers in directing the film because she won’t stop until she finds an answer. An answer and solution to the meaning of death and possible transcendence that his culture taught him. What eventually ensues is a bittersweet event that forces her to grow up in the midst of a crisis.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The result is far more relevant and grounded than it should be, and plays well in context. Recognizing his connection to his grandfather is a silent act of accepting that his grandfather’s legacy is only as good as his presence on earth to follow the family values ​​of kindness and respect.

Diya Modi as Anu shines. The performance of the young actress is good enough to give her strange but ultimately necessary motivations. Even then, Modi refrains from going over the top, which would make his character lose steam. He is always in control, which is rare for young actors.

Sudeshna Sen new to filmmaking. This becomes clear as the film’s second act moves too quickly and Anu’s quest becomes muddled and her relationship with her parents difficult to digest. But Sen does enough to stamp his name on the dynamics of indie cinema by portraying the drama with such power that it makes you think. This movie won’t change your life, but it will make you want to call every member of your family to tell them how much you miss them and how much they mean to you. I think that’s enough for a relatively new film career.

Founder of Screentology. Member of OFCS. RT rated critic
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