Chumbak

Story: Baalu (Sahil Jadhav) attempts to pull off a scam at his friend’s suggestion. But when he finds out that the victim is a gullible village simpleton, he has a change of heart.

Review: Some movies leave a lasting impression and a sweet aftertaste. They drive the point home using the simplest of stories. Chumbak is one such film.

Bhalchandra aka Balu (Jadhav), a street-smart teenager, toils at a coffee shop in Mumbai with the sole aim of saving enough money to start a sugarcane juice shop in his village. But fate has other plans for him as he gets conned and loses his hard-earned money. This is when his friend Disco (Desai) suggests that he should pull off a lottery scam if he still wants to achieve his aim. Enter Prasanna (Swanand Kirkire), an innocent middle-aged man who falls prey to Balu and Disco’s scam. Thinking the call is really going to benefit him, Prasanna gives the two youngsters some money and his gold chain. Balu, however, has a change of heart and ends up helping Prasanna. Not without enduring a lot on the way though.

Chumbak’s strength lies in its simple and relatable concept. What makes it more appealing is the brilliant execution. The film is a rollercoaster ride with innocent humour that gradually gives way to some emotional moments.

For a movie to deliver a message well, the same must be incorporated into the screenplay rather than giving out a discourse. Director Sandeep Modi does exactly that. There is no out and out negative character in the film, but everyone has shades of grey. The layered treatment gives out the desired message clearly.

In the acting department, Swanand Kirkire dominates the screen. He doesn’t go overboard with the role and is convincing. First-timers Sahil and Sangram are at ease facing the camera and complement Swanand’s character. The ingenious combination of all these characters strengthens the film.

Films with a socially relevant topic sometimes tend to get preachy and boring. However, Chumbak touches your heart and qualifies for a must-watch this weekend.