CAST: Kajol, Vishal Jethwa, Rajeev Khandelwal, Mala Parvathi, Ridhi Kumar, Aahana Kumra, Rahul Bose, Aamir Khan
DIRECTOR: Revathy
Actor-director Revathy’s film is about 24-year-old Venkatesh, his mother Sujata, and their fight against a debilitating disease and a system which denies him euthanasia. Kajol is superlative as Sujatha, Venkatesh’s (Vishal Jethwa) mother who takes on the system on his behalf.
The film is based on Shrikanth Murthy’s The Last Hurrah, inspired by the real-life story of chess player Kolavennu Venkatesh who, helped by his mother K Sujatha, petitioned for euthanasia so that he could donate his organs. Venkatesh suffered from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which causes muscle degeneration and eventually leads to death. He wanted to donate his organs while they were viable to be harvested.
Venky in the film is a happy, Bollywood-loving, chess-playing youngster who has a film dialogue for every occasion. His relationship with his doctor (Rajeev Khandelwal), nurse (Mala Parvathi), sister (Ridhi Kumar), sweetheart (Aneet Padda), and even spiritual guide (Ananth Mahadevan) are all deep-dived into.
Sujata files a case seeking euthanasia on behalf of her son — it is his ‘last wish’. Rahul Bose is the lawyer Parvez who takes on a case knowing that he will, most likely, lose.
Rahul Bose and Priya Mani as lawyers on opposing sides, Aahana Kumra as the journalist helping the ‘cause’, Prakash Raj as the judge who hears the case, Aneet Padda (who is especially noteworthy) as Venky’s blind sweetheart, and Ridhi as the estranged sister who is back with her mother and brother. Malayalam actor Mala Parvathi is lovable as the nurse Sister Clara who looks after Venky. Having to act with Kajol, Vishal stands on his own. If you expect to see Aamir Khan, don’t hold your breath, it is just a cameo.
The movie is melodramatic and sad, especially the scenes between the mother and the son. Compare this with Shonali Bose’s The Sky is Pink, inspired by the true story of 18-year-old Aisha Chaudhary who dies of pulmonary fibrosis. It is also about a terminally-ill child and her family, but it was told realistically and poignantly instead of a melodramatic musical.
On the whole, a tear jerker but relies heavily on drama.
