Yash Rai

This film can make you chuckle at those subtle humorous moments while you are still crying. The plot revolves around the death of Aastik, a youth of a joint family in Lucknow. His widow, Sandhya, is unable to grieve over his death due to the fact that over the only five months that they had spent together, there was no tuning or even conversation between them. The movie absorbs the audience from the very starting. It houses one of the most talented and artistic actors and actresses of the time. The film is cleverly written, justifying almost all the characters with such brilliance that you can get concerned about all of their destinies. The plot is actually convoluted but it is narrated (through direction and acting) with cinematic competence, and the story seems simple. Because of the impactful performances, there are quite a number of scenes that can move you. The story has its moments of tragedy, comedy and even suspense. It is unpredictable but not preposterous. The film actually touches on a number of issues. It is not just about what happens to the family when a young, employed member dies but also about the way relatives 'mourn', the problems faced by a widow, the process of recovery from the shock for the ones who are really broken and the struggle of property and money on the eve of the demise. Overall, it is a must-watch film. It is not a popcorn-entertainer but it also does not become a monotonous art film. Pagglait is a fresh work in Indian Film Cinema in all aspects - from storyline to direction. Movies like such carry the potential to change the process of Indian filmmaking. *Ratings: 4.5/5*