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Nanhe Jaisalmer
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'Nanhe Jaisalmer' -Well Intended

By Aparajita Ghosh
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’ is the story of a 10-year-old village kid who idolizes a Bollywood movie star.

Years after working with superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in his first movie Kyon, Ho Gaya Na , director Samir Karnik steers clear of big stars in his latest movie ‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’. Even though a big Bollywood star was the requirement of this film, Samir opts for a semi-star like Bobby Deol .

This

explains one shortcoming of ‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’, which is otherwise an eminently watchable film. It is an unconventional, non-conformist, offbeat movie with child artist Dwij Yadav as its protagonist.

The movie doesn’t pander to Bollywood stereotypes. There is no romantic track in the film, no exotic locales (even though the sandy dunes of Rajasthan are no less panoramic), no dramatization and no mushy sentimentality.

The story is straight and simple and yet has its own undercurrents.

Nanhe (Dwij Yadav) is a young kid who lives in Jaisalmer with his mother and sister. Being the sole male member of the family, he helps his family to make ends meet by taking tourists on desert safari on his camel named Raja.

The ten-year-old boy is a diehard fan of Bollywood star Bobby Deol, with whom Nanhe has formed a bonding through a number of letters that he gets written through his sister. Nanhe fondly calls Bobby his ‘dost’ and believes that his idol feels the same way about him. This belief is at times ridiculed and scorned by Nanhe’s friends and family.

But then, one day, while on a ride with his camel in the desert, Nanhe comes face to face with his idol (Bobby Deol).

The movie reaches a high point at this turn and you wait anxiously to see how Nanhe’s story would transpire. The sequences between Bobby and Nanhe keeps your interest kindled. But then, at the fag end, the climax catches you unaware.

‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’ is a well-intended children’s film with a nice blend of reality and fable. And without a doubt the child actor Dwij Yadav is the real star of the movie.

Dwij is natural, uninhibited and spontaneous in his performance. At times he can be endearing, at times stubborn, at times vulnerable.

Bobby Deol plays his part well but isn’t perfectly suited to the role of a big star who is idolized and deified by a young kid.

On the margins, actors like Pratiksha Lonkar, Vivek Shauq, Sharat Saxena and Bina Kak are compatible.

‘Nanhe Jaisalmer’ could have done better without the songs of Himesh Reshammiya . The camerawork by Binod Pradhan is good. And Samir Karnik’s directorial skills are definitely more honed in this movie than in his debut venture. However, some people might be put off by the movie’s climax.

Rating: **1/2

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