Aryaka Dhattarwal

“Chalo Jeetein Hai”, meaning in translation, ‘come let’s live’ revolves around the theme of searching for the meaning to life. The film is directed, written, and produced by Mangesh Hadawale. The thirty-two-minute running masterpiece is based on true events from our present Prime Minister Hon’ble Narendra Modi Ji’s early life. The protagonist, Naru, is a young child who’s inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s writing and questions every potential person who could know the answer to his question: who do you live for? Naru is a decent child and is deeply affected by his surroundings. He runs a stage show to raise money for his classmate who couldn’t afford his education. The movie not only portrays the wisdom which came from a young mind but also succeeded in establishing the societal message and cons of caste-based division. The movie is about a young spirit unfurling itself among the crucial parts of society and fighting for what’s right. Director of photography (DoP) Apart from the flat, the direction of photography drive audiences’ mind to the pastoral regions, markets, props, and objects used to expand our focus or attention. I loved the iconic change in the background when the camera zoomed in and then out of the notebook Naru was writing his script on, and the slo-mo with it. The wide-angled shots and contrasting portraits balanced the eye strain. There is no unnecessary use of lighting, thus giving the absolutely real and/or original view of the village setting. Music and Lyric The music used in the short film originalize where it came from. I like the use of native language in dialogues which helps keep the scripting authentic. The music did not itch the ear and is placed exactly where it feels needed. To conclude, the movie is a good watch, can be watched with the family, and is worth the time.