Nikhil Mahajan's character examine in Godavari affords considerate different to Bollywood fare -

For these used to the jumped-up tempo and palette of shiny colours of most Bollywood movement footage, it takes a while getting used to the one Indian film at this 12 months’s Vancouver Worldwide Film Pageant.

Director Nikhil Mahajan’s Marathi-language Godavari is a persona analysis centred spherical a grumpy landlord’s relationship to the river of the similar title.

All of it takes place inside the crowded and historic metropolis of Nashik, which is about 140 kilometres from Mumbai.

The film opens with the stressed-out, chain-smoking Nishikant (Jitendra Joshi) zipping spherical on a moped amassing lease from quite a few tenants. This man seems irritated with all people—his partner, his mother, and his senile grandfather, who repeatedly asks if the water inside the river has touched Lord Hanuman’s ankles. When Nishikant’s daughter says she’s bored at residence, Nishikant replies “me, too”.

Points unfold slowly, amid the beats of Av Prafullachandra’s Indian songs, which amplify the misery of Nishikant’s existence. The gloomy mood is bolstered by the darkness of the condominium the place Nishikant has fled to stay away from his family.

Imaginative digicam work moreover does its magic, with longer footage from a variety of angles driving residence how insignificant Nishikant’s life has grow to be.

Two points happen to create new pressures on Nishikant. First, there’s a suggestion from a developer to purchase the family’s land holdings, which could require evicting his tenants. Then, there’s a disturbing medical prognosis.

This items Nishikant on a non secular journey whereby the mighty Godavari River occupies centre-stage.

The showing in Godavari is first-rate, most notably in Joshi’s fiery-eyed portrayal of the troubled Nishikant, however as well as in Priyadarshan Jadhav’s pensive and plaintive effectivity as his good good friend Kaasav. The mother, carried out by Neena Kukarni, moreover shines collectively together with her refined and real showing. That's Marathi arthouse cinema at its best.

Nevertheless for expat Indians used to the razzle-dazzle of a Salman Khan movement movie—and even the dramatic suspense of a critically acclaimed Bollywood film like Haider—Godavari might strike them as a tad sluggish.

To them, I say be affected individual. Stick with it. With excellent Indian cooking, points find yourself larger when spices are given time to marinate.

The similar is true of the central character in Godavari—Nishikant merely desires some time to evolve.