The Blue Umbrella : Ruskin bond gets a special gift which shakespeare could not

Ruskin bond gets a special gift which shakespeare could not. How I wish just like Ruskin bond, shakespeare should also have been alive to see adaptation of his story into "Maqbool" and "Omkara". Rusking bond though is lucky and must have watched "The Blue Umbrella", a short story written by him which is so beautifully picturized by versatile Vishal Bhardwaj.

Ruskin Bond could pen the grandeur of Himalayas and Himachal Pradesh, beautifully as he had been born and brought up there, and Vishal without having stayed there captures the very essence of Village life in the Mountains beautifully.

Apart from the settings and its beauty, what Vishal succeeds is getting his audience right and catering exclusively to them. Omkara and Maqbool was for people who understands and appreciates the intricacies of complex relationships, while The Blue Umbrella (Like Makdee) caters to children, simple and young, pure and unadulterated thinking. And, yes he gets all of it correct this time too. Its a movie that puts across the story as well as the message, so simply that children can easily relate to all that is happening.

The lead character of the story - oh she is the most beautiful thing that you might have seen on screen in the recent times. She is bright, she is gorgeous, she is colourful, she is lovable, she is cute, she makes all her peers go weak as she passes by them with her charm, She is the elegant blue umbrella. The Japanese Umbrella that forms very base of the movie is beautiful and all that happens for it seems explainable. It is the beauty of Umbrella that makes it an object of desire for everyone in the village who has an eye on it.

But umbrella has been bought by the little girl, Biniya (Shreya Sharma), who got it exchanging the Jantar that she wore in her neck with a Japanese girl. The very joy of her having that umbrella made heads turn in the village. Everyone gets awed by the beauty of umbrella and envies Biniya for having it. Biniya's life changes for ever as she moves around througout the village in summers, monsoon and winters with her new found companion. Her friends are enjoying being with someone who has been gaining so much of attention.

But its not just the kids for whom the umbrella becomes the object of desire. There is Nandkishor (Pankaj Kapur plays the lead role of Chaatri Chor) who sets his eye on it. And the shrewd shop keeper, who loots the people in need of money off their belongings, wants the umbrella at any cost. Umbrella that has been making Biniya the center of attraction in the village.

He tries to cajole, pay, fight, barter, everything to get that umbrella but our little Biniya will not give it to him. Finally he does what he knows is not correct but could not live that uncomfortable life longing for the object of his desire. He steals.

Biniya, knows its him, she calls police but the police finds nothing in Nandkishor's shop. Humiliated, he says he will get a similar umbrella and will abstain food and water unless that is done. A parcel arrives with a similar pink umbrella to him, and he eats food after that. The villagers feel sorry for blaming him for the theft and tries to correct themselves in their own way giving proper social status to him. Biniya loses her umberella and the dusht shop keeper succeeds.

But Biniya, in the course of time understands that the umbrella that is with NandKishor is the same Blue umbrella painted red. She wants it back. And rest is her journey to get it back.

Nandkishor is later shun from the village life and no villager keeps any contact with him. He is repenting his act and his situation deteriorate day by day until at the end Biniya forgives him and gifts him the umbrella.

Simple Yet Beautiful.

A special mention here to the dialogues of the film with himachali slang, which captures the very essence of village life in Himachal. But I wonder if children outside himachal could understand it completely.

Music again is outstanding, Its very difficult to capture the attention of the young viewers with music, but Bhardwaj does it here too. Gulzar's Lyrics, reminded me of "Jungle book", together, Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar forms a magical team.

Vishal Bhardwaj, the real hero of our blue umbrella, shows his versatality by doing good in all he does : Film Direction, Production, Dialogues, Music direction. Absolutely fantastic.

Cinematography by Sachin Krishn in the Mountain settings is absolutely perfect and a full 10 on 10 for him too. Art direction by Samir Chanda I must say was not up to the expectation, especially because at times the movie was simply too dark, to be a children's movie.

But most importatly the movie wins accolades for the acting of Shreya Sharma and Pankaj Kapur. Simply fantabulous. Shreya sherma, who was 10 yrs old girl from a small place in Himachal, when the movie was shot, does not give a hint of it to us and is completely comfortable with cameras on her. Her exressive face makes every child connect with the character. Pankaj Kapur as a sinster shop keeper and at a later stage as a deserted repentant man is too good. Here is an actor who has a range just like Vishal Bhardwaj working for serious roles like Maqbool's Abbaji to suck dark simple Nandkishor. Rest of the characters are appropriate in the movie but have not much to do.

Then why did the movie not work commercially even after getting the National Award for Best Children film of the year ??!!

Firstly, the audience were children, and the movie got promoted as a multiplex movie. I think you had a perfect product which did not get a good channel for sales to the kids.

Secondly, trying to give the movie its authentic rustic touch, at times the dialogues are simply incomprehensible and am sure for a young child the himachali slang could be too difficult.

All in all a beautiful movie which did not reach its audiences well. Do show your children this wonderful movie.

3* for the work of art . (This is for the movie, Vishal Bhardwaj is an absolute 5 starer in all he does).