Kaagaz(ZEE5)
Directed by Satish Kaushik
Rating: ***
Kaagaz tells a very peculiar and poignant story of a man from Uttar Pradesh who spent 18 years of his life proving that he was alive. Unfortunately a bigger tragedy than the one that befalls Lal Bihari strikes this well-intended film on his life.
Kaagaz is peculiar but not the least poignant. Director Satish Kaushik helms the project who has immense theater and film experience trying to evoke real sympathy in us for Lal Bihari who for all practical purposes, is dead on governmental paper. Kaushik starts off the story as one of monstrous bureaucratic bungling and then takes the tragedy into the dangerous territory of farce with Lal Bihari making every effort to get arrested so that the ensuing FIR would prove he’s alive.
All of this is done in one hurried sweep that allows us to stay with no particular emotion for the protagonist. Seasoned actor that he is, Pankaj put all effort to furnish the character’s weird predicament with a semblance of consistency. He succeeds partially. Kaagaz is more watchable because of Tripathi who seems to believe in his character’s bizarre struggle.
I have always believed Satish Kaushik to be a better actor than a director. In Kaagaz he plays a shift jugadu lawyer(something like what Pankaj Tripathi plays in Criminal Justice) who initially cons Lal Bihari into trusting the legal system (which fails Lal Bihari at every step) and then becomes one with the poor man’s struggle.
The rest of the cast is unusually listless. M Monal Gujjar who plays an important part as Bihari Lal’s wife is way too groomed and prim to look convincing as a rustic spouse. The ever-dependable Mita Vashist does her best to get a grip on her role as a wily politician. And if you look really hard you will see Amar Upadhyay hiding under a beard a scowl that has seen better days. Just like the actor.