Sooni Taraporevala’s Yeh Ballet is a treasure to savor. Yeh Ballet’s protagonist, Asif (Achintya Bose) is a young, poor Muslim in love with hip-hop. Asif has to win a vital battle at home as his uncle criticizes his interest in music, considering it “haraam.” Nishu (Manish Chauhan), who, an exceptional dancer, comes from a impoverished family, contending with an indifferent father.

Both Asif and Nishu land up at the Mumbai Dance Academy, where the chief instructor, Saul Aaron (Julian Sands), has recently arrived from the US. Temperamental, impatient and demanding utmost dedication to the craft, Saul has no tolerance for Indian niceties; the loud neighbors annoy him, the unprofessionalism at large – the lack of preparation, the very Indian chalta hai attitude – doesn’t sit well with him, either.

Yeh Ballet locates itself in the midst of inter- and intra-cultural differences while evolving the story of talent and passion in the most human way possible in the foreground. The passion of the Instructor and how the whole village gets their resources together to make sure that the boys get a chance to further their talent.

Yeh Ballet as a story could not have been complete without the authenticity and the brilliance of its actors.

Asif is witty, spirited, buoyant. He’s scared at one moment, optimistic the other – distinguishable qualities that make the character well-rounded. Yeh Ballet needed such acting finesse and these actors have fully justified the character required. This movie, inspired from an affecting real-life story, lends itself to natural pathos. The difference good actors can make is evident through the narrative.

Go watch. Streaming on @netflix