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Cast:
Mahima Choudhary, Suhasini Mulay, Amit Sial, |
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Ranjit Choudhary, Vinny Cuevas, Shilpa Guha,
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Nicoye Banks, Paul Barry, Neil Daly,
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Music:
Wayne Sharp, Rick Baitz
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Year:
2008 |
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Cinematographer: Nirmal Jani, Yogesh
Jani |
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Story: Tanuja Chandra, Glenn Russow |
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Editor: Hilary Peabody |
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Banner:
Scott Pardo, Arlo Siegal |
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Producer:
Scott Pardo |
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Direction:
Tanuja Chandra |
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The
film is set in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in
New York in 2001. As can be expected, it raises the issue of
racial discrimination and hatred that Muslims and people of
Asian communities face in the US post 9/11.
The irony of the story is that it has an important character
of a retired Sikh colonel who hates Muslims after losing his
son in the terror attack. But the same colonel finds himself
at the receiving end of racial attacks by the Americans who
call him 'Osama' and label him a sympathizer of terrorists
because of his turban and beard. |
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But this is not what 'Hope And A Little Sugar' is
about. The film is about keeping hope alive and
moving on with life.
Ali (Amit Sial), a Muslim guy, has a crush on a
married Sikh woman named Saloni ( Mahima Chaudhary
). Though his feelings for her are not reciprocated,
Ali becomes close to Saloni's family. |
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But then
9/11 happens and Saloni's husband Harry (Vikram Chatwal ) is
killed in the terror attack. Harry's father Colonel Oberoi (Anupam
Kher ) seethes with pent-up rage towards Muslims for having
taken away his son. And Ali's increasing proximity to his
widowed daughter-in-law only infuriates him further..
Ali, on
his part, has his own demons. He is a victim of the 1992
riots in Bombay. But he doesn't show his angst. |
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On the other hand, Saloni makes a somewhat vague
character whose feelings for Ali aren't made
explicit for the most part. 'Hope And A Little
Sugar' is the story of these complex characters and
how they find a closure to their past and move on
with life.
Where the movie falters is that it does not
establish the characters in depth, making it
difficult for a viewer to empathize or sympathize
with the turbulence in their lives. |
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The film, however, has some poignant moments like when Kher
is beaten up by the racist Americans or when his character
undergoes a change of heart before the film's end. And the
actor puts in a commendable performance to bring Colonel
Oberoi to life. |
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Mahima Chaudhary performs well but her
character ought to have been fleshed out
better. The script does not give ample space
to show the dilemma of Saloni after the
death of her husband.
The weakest link in the film is actor Amit
Sial, who looks wooded and uptight for the
most part. Suhasini Mulay, as Saloni's
mother, is good. Vikram Chatwal has a brief
role which he performs finely. |
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Tanuja Chandra has made a fairly engrossing film but for a
few rough edges that give this movie a somewhat jaded look.
But it is the theme that wins you over with its message. |
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