Introduction
Vanvaas is a film directed by Anil Sharma who is well-known for the Gadar series and stars Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma. This film sought to explore family values and sentiments, but fails miserably as there seems to be no consistent or unifying storyline. A detailed review of what works and what does not is given as follows.
A Familiar Yet Innovative Premise
The father-son bond depicted in the movie Vanvaas, which is similar to the bond seen in the movie Baghban seen, pines for the son’s love in quite a different way. It would rather recall the time when a fair has lost his father instead of what loses a child the fair. Most of the twists and ends though focused offer lack of execution and depth. The central premise as such drifts away more with the fairly inflated love story of veeru (of Utkarsh Sharma) and when combined it all becomes somewhat the focal point of the story, largely deviating from it. Such an incoherence in approach is bound to disjoint the audience in totality and un nerratively excite them.
Disappointing Execution
The apparent lack of depth in the characters makes the script incomplete. Nana Patekar as a simple family man is definitely not the type of zealot which can win your heart but instead portrays someone who lacks depth and is covered in gimmicks. Even a seasoned actor like Rajpal Yadav is irritating when he tries to be controlled over-the-top.
The editing is another worst aspect of the movie. Putting frame rates under poor manipulation attempting to slow down scenes looks terrible. Many audiences in the theater are trying to escape themselves either by sleeping midway or walking out of the screening, which underscores the problem that the movie has in capturing the audiences’ attention.
Comparisons with Better Family Dramas
In recent years, films such as Goodbye (starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rashmika Mandanna) have shown a tremendous and authentic touch in parental relationships which is missing in plots like that of Vanvaas. Even older movies such as Baghban managed to create such an impact which seems to be completely missing in Vanvaas.
Key Issues
- Weak Script: The story starts promisingly but soon drifts aimlessly, only returning to the main plot during the climax.
- Overacting: Over-dramatized performances from side characters and even leads detract from the emotional core of the film.
- Artificial Emotions: Forced dialogues and fake sentiments make it hard to connect with the characters.
- Unimpressive Editing: The technical aspects fail to enhance the storytelling, instead drawing attention to the film’s shortcomings.
Verdict
Though the aim of reinforcing the connections among family members is admirable, Vanvaas does not manage to effectively bring this out on the screen. I suppose the film could find favor among those who are used to watching cheesy TV dramas, but it does not have the class and feeling needed for enthralling cinema.
Rating: 2/5
Despite its good intentions, Vanvaas is a forgettable affair, hindered by its poor execution and outdated storytelling style. Unless you’re a fan of overly dramatic family sagas, this one might not be worth your time or money.