Movie: Reincarnation
Director: Gaurav Bakshi
Rating: ***
An intriguing plot is what it takes for a film to keep you engrossed through its running time. A film need not boast of stellar star cast or super star status instead can succeed merely with a plausible plot. Gaurav Bakshi’s ‘Reincarnation’ is a perfect example of a film with intriguing and plausible plot.
The film tells the story of Siddhartha, a common man, who’s in the news because he’s believed to be the reincarnation of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’. Sid constantly dreams that he’s Gandhiji reborn and before even he could acknowledge the same, news leaks out and others start believing he’s the new avatar of Gandhiji. Is Sid really Gandhi reborn or is he just hallucinating? What’s the truth? Why do people around him even believe him?
The film draws a parallel between dream and hallucination. Is Sid actually dreaming or hallucinating is a question that partially gets answered in the film? As a viewer you get to decide whether it is a dream or hallucination. Direction by Gaurav Bakshi is not outstanding but definitely praiseworthy for having addressed a different subject through his experiment. Seldom do you get a chance to see short films with a difference, and this film definitely is one.
Another sensitive and sensible issue that is addressed through this film is our incapability to accept what we believe in but succumb to what others preach. Initially, Sid finds it hard to accept the truth however upon seeing the way others accept him, he gives in and eventually embraces the truth. This concept can be called sheepwalking – you begin to accept something because it’s been accepted by many.
Lastly, what I really liked about this film is the fact that the director throws several questions at the viewer and leaves the floor open for the questions to be figured out. More importantly, the twist at the end will leave you in awe.
