Kaagaz: Even Pankaj Tripathi's Brilliance Cannot Put Life In This 'Mritak'
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-01-10 11:36:41
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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When Zee5 started airing the teaser/trailer of Kagaaz (produced by Salmaan Khan Films and directed by Satish Kaushik), one was suitably excited as it starred Pankaj Tripathi, the hottest actor around in 2020. But after watching the movie, one is sure that even an actor of the calibre of Tripathi can carry a film only thus far and no further.
The premise and the story are both excellent, especially in times when the whole country was recently resonating with the cries of "kaagaz nahin dikhayenge" (although in a different context). The execution, though filled with cliches, is also not bad. The acting is competent with Pankaj Tripathi as Lal Bihari Mritak (changed to Bharat Lal in the film) putting in a sincere, believable and awesome performance. A special mention must also be made for Monal Gajjar who looks good and supports Tripathi as Rukmini, Lal Bihari's wife, well. But the movie seems jaded and even though one can sit through it, it leaves a hollow feeling at the end.
The story is based on the real life experience of a common man of the same name in UP. His uncle, aunt and cousins conspired to have him declared dead "on paper" and denied him a share in their ancestral property. Although most people advised Lal Bihari to let it go, he took it on the chin and decided to fight for his atmasamman.
The story follows his depressing journey of running from pillar to post to get him declared alive officially and "on paper". It takes him to property registrars, police stations, panchayat pramukhs, MLAs and finally the chief minister when his missives to even the Prime Minister just draw the bureaucratic response of "apki samasya ko hum dekhte hain". He even forms a political party and stand for election against Rajiv Gandhi from Amethi. A reporter-cameraman couple even gets him his two-bit of fame by getting his story splashed in the national and international (Including Time magazine) media.
But to no avail. He is subjected to ridicule and his wife and children leave him as he is unofficially declared a madman. But he continues with his mission. No one is willing to get him arrested as that would amount to acknowledging that he exists and is alive. Hence, he escapes being punished for a kidnapping and the judge refuses to get him arrested for contempt of court. He is not arrested even when he throws pamphlets inside the UP assembly. The climax looks contrived when Bihari storms the registrar's office to set things right but his friend advocate Sadhoram meets the chief minister and manages to get an ordinance issued that brings Lal Bihari back to life. Unfortunately, even Pankaj Tripathi's brilliance is unable to infuse life in this movie.
