'Sarkeet' review: Asif Ali's moving performance powers a thought-provoking family drama

There is a moment in Sarkeet where the ADHD-affected boy, the film's central character played by Orhan, breaks an aquarium because, according to the woman to whom it belongs, "He wanted to free the fish." One imagines the boy feels some kinship with these beings considering how trapped he feels at his own parents' home. In an earlier scene, the boy destroys a tray of eggs after seeing chickens hatch on TV. You can interpret this scene in any way you want.

Writer-director Thamar's debut feature 1001 Nunakal (1001 Lies) created a strong impression on me when it premiered on SonyLIV a couple of years back. That was a film without any flab — lean, concise and contained, it managed to strongly hold our attention with multiple characters in a limited setting, and in its portrayal of the various internal concerns of its characters and the intrusion of unforeseen external conflicts, evoked some of the acclaimed Iranian films that dealt with similar subjects. Moreover, Thamar demonstrated impressive command over its relatively unknown cast members.

In Sarkeet, too, Thamar tells two parallel stories that cross paths midway. The first story is about a struggling job-seeker in the Gulf (1001 Nunakal was about Malayali expatriates too). The second, about the boy and his parents (played by Deepak Parambol and Divya Prabha). I won't tell you whether Asif Ali's character, the unemployed Amir, gets to meet the above couple. He may be two films old, but one of Thamar's ostensibly strong suits is that he doesn't take the oft-trodden path of making characters meet.

But since the film's trailer has scenes involving Asif and the boy, and since their interactions do most of the emotional heavy lifting, we can talk about that without the risk of spoiling anything. (You may ask why I should bring up the subject of spoilers when the film isn't marketed as a thriller or mystery. Well, isn't there beauty in how certain revelations are made, even if it's a feel-good film?)               

When Amir meets the boy for the first time, it's one of the most unusual and chaotic situations we can imagine. The adhesive used to fix a broken toy immediately becomes a metaphor for the bond they would eventually form when something unexpected happens. The events that lead to this meeting are caused by a desperate situation that deals a heavy blow to Amir and his self-esteem.

And Asif's casting makes sense here in light of some of his recently much-lauded characters from across the emotional spectrum. And some "logical" choices in the early portions make sense later. You get why Thamar had to show why a woman leaves the door key in a certain place. You get the possible origin of Amir's patience in a backstory he narrates about the nature of his relationship with his own father. You get why someone had to go to the beach.

And before the film gets to feel-good denouement it puts Amir, and us, in some fairly awkward and uncomfortable situations. The boy's behaviour, and that of his parents, can be too overwhelming for those who are sensitive or are opposed to the idea of having kids. Deepak Parambol and Divya Prabha are quite convincing as individuals who have to juggle work and home challenges. Thamar's writing allows spaces for these parents to acknowledge their own shortcomings and question the choices they once made.

But there are times I wished the characters of Deepak and Divya got more depth than they are allowed here. There are times I felt like yelling at them for doing things that could cause more trouble for them, and their child, in the future. And I'm not sure I fully loved the ending, despite the few happy tears it generated. All I'm saying is that if you go into this looking for a Taare Zameen Par or something that offers an explicitly spelt-out solution for parents with ADHD-affected kids, then you might feel disappointed. But I reckon the answer is right there, in front of our eyes.

 

Film: Sarkeet

Director: Thamar

Cast: Asif Ali, Deepak Parambol, Divya Prabha, Prashant Alexander, Orhan

Rating: 3.5/5

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