Star cast: Riya Vij, Divya Dutta, Arbaz Kadwani, Jayati Modi, Taaha Shah
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Director: Sonam Nair
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What’s Bad: It is a cacophony of clichés that outcharms the film’s honesty.
Loo break: None.
Watch or Not?: Gippi is an irresistibly penned fairy tale that has the only stilted flaw of working on clichés. For most part it is feel-good, except its dragging hackneyed bits that butcher the delightful impression that it manages. Clubbing adolescent antics along with the transformation of Gippi into a fashionista translates on screen some despicable stereotypes. The captivation penchant gives this film the confidence to follow into independent new-age genre of cinema. A steady, heart churning story with Riya Vij winning convincingly as the film’s most entrancing element makes it an exceedingly watchable film for teenagers.
User Rating:
The unconfident, plump teenage girl Gippi is dealing with regular issues of growing chest size, bordering menstruation, and lack of popularity at school, a high school bitch and a nonexistent love life. Quaintly satiated, the girl lives with her brother Booboo and single mother. Added to the age specific problems, she is dealing with her father’s impending marriage to a foreigner. Disheartened by lover, denounced by friends, unpopular and insanely stupid, Gippi takes life in her own hands by standing against arch rival at the school elections! So does Gippi win over her own demons and reign victorious?
The film has its ample share of phenomenal magical quotient. Adding swampy details of American sitcom ideas, the film’s metronome does seem pleasing as it gets back a blast from the past for most women. Pointing out bra and period issues, the film uncurbed-ly illustrates the detailed pains of adolescent life. I can safely assume men won’t prefer this film. Restricting themselves in their happy bubble, relevant girl issues that this film deals with doesn’t cater to their sensibilities. Script wise, the plot’s USPs is its straight from the heart narrative and overwhelming honesty that retains an arresting impression. A lot of its unnecessary tracks could have been avoided, as it seemed really pointless. The sappy family discordance between Divya Dutta and Pankaj Dheer was eerie and did not knot up neatly however.
Riya Vij paints an unbridled and plausible picture of the character she depicts. Having her teeth gritted deeply in the skin of the character, she easily matches up to the skill of co-actress Divya Dutta. Her work is utmost effortless and she is the film’s wonder girl.
Arbaz as Gippi’s brother is persuasively brilliant. With Vij overshadowing all characters with her author backed role, Arbaz’s stint is indeed memorable.
Divya Dutta with her striking prowess stays detached from the main characters, so as to not overpower the celluloid with her pristine presence.
Jayati Modi, as the film’s antagonist plays her role with evil perfection and is believable as the character she depicts.
Director Sonam Nair who has previously assisted Ayan Mukherji on Wake Up Sid and Vishal Bharadwaj acquires authority at the helm this time. She is a prolific scriptwriter who scrapes through a veritable narrative instigating tranquil performances out of absolute novices.
The situational music of the film is above average but it is the rehashing of classic songs that builds up the background music’s fiendish appeal.
The film doesn’t use its cinematography well by completely lagging to use the rugged terrains of North Indian hills aptly. An unwrinkled flow of the film is what reckons applause for debutant director Sonam.
Gippi instilled in its stereotypical clichéd format, is still a pleasantly surprising venture on celluloid. Made with great sensitivity, it is a tender story of adolescent age. There are minor hiccups in the plot; but Riya Vij’s immaculate work, in a story that is Bollywood’s answer to Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries, is commendable. There isn’t anything pristine in the film, but it evokes a sense of nostalgia that embeds with its story to leave a salient impact. I am going for a 2.5/5 for Sonam Nair’s Gippi. It deserves a view for Nair’s sincerity and Vij’s effervescent screen presence!
Gippi released on 10th May, 2013.
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