Club 60

Story: A couple in their 60’s loses their only son to gun violence in the US. With no reason to live and nobody to love, the two almost give up on life until they bump into the jovial members of Club 60.

Review: After the untimely death of their only son, neurosurgeon, Dr Tariq Sheikh (Farooque Sheikh) and his wife Dr Saira (Sarika) are unable to put the pieces of their broken life together. Tariq suffers from depression, while Saira struggles to cope with her husband’s suicidal tendencies. In an attempt to make a fresh start in life and to get rid of the ‘nothingness’ that haunts them, they shift to Mumbai from Pune. More than the city’s distractions, it’s their loud neighbour Manubhai (Raghubir Yadav), who manages to kill the deafening silence that plagues them with his somewhat annoying yet adorable antics. Manubhai introduces Tariq to members of his sports club – where life begins at 60.

Club 60 has its heart in the right place. Sanjay Tripathy makes an earnest attempt to reach out to the elderly, who seek purpose in life. This one scene in particular where Saira doubts her longing for her son is heartbreaking. Farooque Sheikh and Sarika are outstanding. They prove what a huge role and huge difference, a ‘good casting’ makes in cinema. They hold the film together with their presence, even as the film deviates from tragedy to the unwanted naughty antics of the oldies.

Guess the intention was to show mischief but the club members eying women of all ages and cracking jokes with sexual innuendo, makes them look way too lecherous for your liking. We wish the supporting characters were more defined and sincere. You don’t feel much for anyone except for the lead couple. Also the film gets a tad predictable in the second half. Why must everyone have a dark past?

Club 60 is essentially a heartrending tale of a couple, coping with an irreparable loss. In spite of the flaws, you can watch it solely for the immensely talented Farooque Shaikh and the sublime Sarika.