APNA ASMAAN
EARNEST BUT ……
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * *1/2

What is it?
A rather unusual subject for a Hindi film! Apna Asmaan written and directed by ad man Kaushik Roy brings into the mainstream a little-known, yet widely prevalent condition: autism. Kaushik deserves all the praise for the attempt to convey the message of how parents are obsessed with their child; they want them to be achievers. They ignore their child’s talent in the desire to see them as per their dreams, and what price they have to pay in the bargain.
 
Kuashik does this with skill and successfully manages to create sympathy for the parents. The cause works over here as Kaushik earnestly centers it on the life of an autistic child. The film provides a boost of awareness about the struggles of an autistic individual. As well as provides fodder for thought on obsessed parents.

The film though has it flaws. It is good but not amazing. The miracles on an intellectual handicap individual do captivate you but it fails to draw a line on the triumph of human spirits of any sorts. It rather gives an embroiling opinion on science and its wonders.

Anupam Kher’s character is hard to digest.
Kaushik ‘s narration is modest and is able to bring out some amazing performances from his lead actors

The film which won the best film award at the Stuttgart film festival truly underlines the coming face of Indian cinema. Good work as far as the idea and the subject is concerned. The film has it heart in its fine place but sadly the soul is somewhat missing.

We need more asmaan’s like this…… can anybody better that!!

Whats it all about?
Ravi (Irfan Khan) and Padmini (Shobana) share a strained relationship due to their teenage son Buddhi's is intellectually handicap. Buddhi(Druv Piyush Panjuani), a mildly autistic slow learner displays his flair for art but his parents, with their middle-class insecurities, neither recognize nor encourage his talent. Driven by Padmini's social insecurities and Ravi's guilt for dropping Buddhi as a baby, the parents chase an unreal dream of seeing their son as a normal good student who, like others, must become an engineer or a doctor. While Dr Sen (Rajat Kapoor), the neurologist, tries hard to make Padmini accept the reality, Ravi's accidental meeting with Dr Sathya (Anupam Kher) the maverick scientist, leads him to the experimental "Brain Booster" that can make Buddhi a genius.

The magic drug has a side effect - Amnesia, which Ravi thinks is a blessing since Buddhi has no good memories to talk about. Initially, Ravi hesitates to administer the drug but one night, in an inebriated state, he is sufficiently provoked by Padmini to inject Buddhi with the Brain Booster. The immediate effect seems like the end of their son's life but he eventually recovers from the shock to emerge as a newly born Buddhi - smarter, brighter but very confused and aloof. While the parents celebrate their new life, they overlook the consequences of a child who has no emotional bond with his parents.

As Buddhi begins to show signs of being a genius, news breaks out about Dr Sathya's dark past and the ill effects of his magic Brain Booster. Soon the parents then begin to realize the perils of transforming their son to someone that he was not meant to be.

What to look out for?
An earnest soul boosting attempt by Kaushik Roy underlining the coming age, face and grace of Indian cinema. Amazing performance by Irrfan Khan his timings and mannerism are brilliant. Shobana provides able support. Rajat Kapoor is competent.

Anupm Kher is fine. Druv Piyush Panjuani as Buddhi is fantastic the disabled part needed more research and effort.

Production values are up to mark.

Cinematography by Barun Mukherjee is fine.

What Not?
Surprisingly you don’t feel for the child. Some intense moments between the parents and the child where necessary for proper establishment.

The Anupam Kher track of some underworld connections is hard to digest. Heart is there in its fine place but the soul is somehow missing.

Recommended: This light is only for the elite.