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Photo Movie Review

Name: Photo Movie Review
Item: Photo
Rating: 4
Author: Pradip Bhat

Written by

Review for the film " Photo"

Runtime: 01 Hour 38 Minutes

Certificate: U

Released: 15-03-2024

Genre: Drama

Similar To: Vyuha, Appuge, Ee Dil Helidhe Ni Bekanthaa, Chowkur Gate

Critic Review
User Review

4 / 5.0

3.46 / 5.0

CAST & CREW

Prakash Raj

M S Jahangir

Mahadev Hadapad

Veeresh Gonwar

Dinesh Divakaran

Goutham Soratoor

Sandhya Arakere

Utsav Gonwar

Shivaraj Mehu

MORE CAST & CREW

Editor:

Shivaraj Mehu

Director:

Utsav Gonwar

Supporting Actress:

Sandhya Arakere

Art Director:

Goutham Soratoor

Director of Photography:

Dinesh Divakaran

Supporting Actor:

Veeresh Gonwar

Actor:

Mahadev Hadapad

M S Jahangir

empty:

Prakash Raj

Click Here For Full Cast & Crew

Photo is a social drama written, produced, and directed by Utsav Gonwar Bio coming soon... >> Read More... . Fakeerappa Bandiwada has co-produced this film. This film has been distributed under the joint banner of Masari Talkies and KRG Studios. Dinesh Divakaran Bio coming soon... >> Read More... is the cinematographer, while Shivaraj Mehu Shivraj Mehu is a Kannada movie editor. He has w >> Read More... and Harish Kumar Rai are the editors of this film. This film has an ensemble cast of Veeresh Gonwar Bio coming soon... >> Read More... , Mahadev Hadapad, Jahangir MS, Sandhya Arakere Bio coming soon... >> Read More... , etc.

Plot

Gyanappa is a daily wage construction worker who somehow makes a living in Bengaluru. His son, Durgya, dreams of having a photo alongside Vidhana Soudha. However, their aspirations are ruined by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent lockdown. Finding no other alternative, the two begin a long walk home. Will they make it?

Star Performances

Utsav Gonwar must be appreciated for dealing with a sensitive issue in such a brilliant way.

From start to the end, Utsav’s focus was just on his story, and nothing else. That’s something very few filmmakers manage to achieve.

Analysis

Since 2018, Kannada cinema has undergone a severe transformation. The makers are showing more and more courage to undertake such ventures, which wouldn’t have been possible a decade or two ago.

One such project is ‘Photo’. This is based on the COVID 19 pandemic and the subsequent problems faced by the citizens, especially the migrant workers, who had no alternative, or a proper shelter to look forward to.

The film begins with the story of a young child, who is not even in his teens. He joins his father on a long walk back home, which takes a physical and mental toll on them both. This film is engaging and endearing in several ways and a tough lesson for people like Anubhav Sinha Anubhav Sinha was born on 22nd June 1956 in Jamalp >> Read More... . But more on that later.

Nobody would believe that this is the first film of Utsav Gonwar. Yet, in less than 1 hour 40 minutes, he captures our attention with his simple, but endearing narrative. At a time, when people either waged ‘app wars’ or involved themselves with the ‘Dalgona Coffee Challenge’, the migrant workers had other problems to look after.

‘Photo’ depicts each side without malice, something that was missing from a film on a similar theme titled ‘Bheed’. In that movie, director Anubhav Sinha had less focus on the plight of the stranded migrants, and more on peddling his agenda, which had no relevance of any kind to either the core issue or even the plot of the movie. Utsav thankfully steers away from any such gimmicks, and that makes this film even more interesting.

What's There?

A socially relevant narrative
Engaging, taut screenplay
Brilliant performances from the ensemble cast

What's Not There?

Minor issues with the pace of the film

Verdict

‘Photo’ may not be commercially appealing to some. However, it is an emotional social drama, that evokes the emotions of the audience with its sheer simplicity. The acting by the ensemble cast only adds to the brilliance of this film. Watch it at once if you haven’t!

TRAILER