All those who still haven’t watched ‘Shuttlecock Boys’, you’ve definitely missed one of the best indie films of the year. Directed by Hemant Gaba, SB is a heartwarming story about four friends with an entrepreneurial dream and the commitment to turn impossible into reality.
A story close to one’s heart –
In an era where filmmakers are coming up with extraordinary storyline, out of the box concepts and grandiose presentation, seldom do you see a story that you can instantly connect with. Be it Avatar or The Lord of the Rings, though they’ve definitely wooed us with sheer technological brilliance and sincere storytelling but failed to connect with us emotionally. Cinema should consume a viewer and make him/her feel connected to the story which I think ‘Shuttlecock Boys’ succeeds in achieving. The story of this film is so close-to-heart that you search for yourself in the characters because they bear a resemblance to us. For example – when you look at Loveleen in the film, who’s the aspirational type like most of us, you don’t see him but visualize yourself in his shoes. Likewise with all other characters too there’s a connection throughout.
Characterization at its best –
I think the upcoming indie filmmakers have mastered the art of detailing so well that they make regular cinema appear lame. You have filmmakers who in order to glorify their heroes completely miss out on finer details that are considered most important. For example; I’ve seen a film, I won’t name it, in which the hero plays a vegetable vendor, so you can imagine how much he must be making on an average, but he’s wearing Levis trousers, converse shoes and a Timex expedition watch. I think this is where mainstream cinema is screwing up big time. In ‘Shuttlecock Boys’, the characters are so well etched that you can’t find any reason to criticize. Manav who plays a chef in a small restaurant in the film uses a Nokia 1100 because that’s reality, he can’t afford a Samsung Galaxy Tab or S2.
Heartfelt music –
Indie films are alien to music or should I say haven’t really explored this territory for various reasons. Of course there are few films with amazing original score but hardly any songs. Audiences in India are inseparable from music and Hemant seem to have internalized this sutra so well that he didn’t hesitate to include couple of songs in the film. Having said that, the songs are not shot in any scintillating locales but they suitably play in the background of the film. The music is very inspiring and in a way drives the story in the right direction. You should watch the film to understand what I exactly mean here.
If you didn’t get a chance to watch the film in theatres then I suggest you wait for the DVD to arrive in stores.