Bala's Paradesi - Movie Review

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradesi_(2013_film)

I’m glad I made it to the first day of the movie “Bala’s Paradesi”. Set in pre-independence India about tea plantation workers, their innocence to fight famine, and their life after accepting the British’s offer to work in the tea estates. The story is the hero and the cast have carried it well by living their characters. They are unique, yet real and definitely make lasting impression. What I specifically like about the movie is the beginning and the end – the way they have been shot. At the start, you will experience the bubbly feel of the village, the joy spread by everyone and everything in the locality and contrastingly in the climax, your soul will shed tears. The music was able to bring in the right emotions and the blend is good too. I cannot tell if the music suits the 1930s but it definitely is in sync with the story scenes. The art direction serve as a backbone, the entire movie has got the parched tone bringing you a scorched feel. The other items such as costumes, make-up, and sets, help in bringing a slice of time period in history.

I love the fact that Bala hasn’t taken any artificial sprinkles. He hasn’t mixed the story with melodrama, clap worthy dialogues, romance, good vs. evil, uprising with hope, revenges, or anything that may do good in the box office. This is his landmark, I believe. The movie also brings in a subtle message on the business in sacred threads, the advent of globalization, the strategy in spreading Christianity, and not-to-forget the westernized lifestyle system.

Paradesi will make us think twice before our first sip of the next tea. :)
Let the world cinema taste another remarkable story.