Hansa

With debts to clear and nobody to help, the kids start finding happiness in small things. A five rupee coin makes Hansa happy while Chiku loves to scare her younger brother in the darkness of the night. The little joys and each other’s company help the siblings pass each day.The film will remind you of the opening line from George Clooney’s poignant film ‘The Descendants‘ (2011). Rubbishing the popular perception of most who believe that people who live in beautiful places have beautiful lives, the protagonist narrates, “Paradise? Paradise can go f*** itself.” The pain and suffering of the people who live in these places are no less. Hansa in a way sends out the same message but in a lighter way.

The film is heart-warming and the characters real. Mesmerising cinematography by Sachin Kabir is a major highlight. From sunrise to sunset, gigantic hills to small cosy houses, bricks and trees to friends chasing each other in jungles, the film is a gorgeous work of art. Manav Kaul doesn’t let the film look sombre in spite of the adversities shown. He makes the film look real, yet fantasy-like.

The child actors give an incredibly authentic performance. Hansa proves that small, independent films need not be abstract or grim to make an impression.