Thaindian News

And Once Again: Keeps you engrossed

Rating: 2.5 out of 5*

Starring: Rajat Kapoor, Antara Mali, Yuden Zongtenpa and Rituparna Sengupta

Director: Amol Palekar

August 22, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Rishikesh Nag (Rajat Kapoor) is an IFS officer who comes for a vacation with his architect wife Manuvela (Rituparna Sengupta) in the picturesque hills of Sikkim. Rishikesh is coping with the death of his first wife Savitri (Antara Mali) and his son in a violent attack when they were living in Yugoslavia many years ago. While Rishikesh was in therapy, he fell in love and married his psychiatrist’s daughter Manuvela. During one his visits to the monastery in Sikkim, Rishikesh is shocked to see Savitri as a female monk there. At first Manuvela considers it as a figment of Rishikesh’s imagination or plain hallucination. However, later she begins to take him seriously and understands the impact of violence in Rishikesh’s life. But then who is that girl? Is she really Savitri and if yes then why is she avoiding Rishikesh? Why didn’t she get back to him in the last 18 years? How does it all affect Manuvela? All these questions are answered in the rest part of the film.

The script by Sandhya Gokhale is very intriguing and keeps you engrossed seeking answers as much as its lead characters. However, her dialogues have ended up being lofty and at times even sounding like a preacher’s sermon. One keeps feeling had the film been completely in Hindi it would have made a better impact in the end. Most characters speak in English whereas Rajat’s character uses Hindi on and off and mind you it appears as a relief! Amol Palekar has captured and intertwined the beauty of Sikkim in his narrative very well. All the rotating bells, the traditional masked dances and monasteries aptly fit into his narrative.

Amongst the cast, Rajat Kapoor and Antara Mali are very natural and impressive. Rituparna Sengupta however fails to impress. Her make up too hasn’t been given proper attention at places. Six year old Sikkimmese girl Yuden Zongtenpa is not only cute but very good in her act as well.

Debajyoti Mishra and Anjan Biswas have given a decent background score but the English songs don’t quiet work as they also sound out of place and forcefully rhymed. Asim Bose’s cinematography is superb though.

…And Once Again moves along in a deliberate slow pace throughout but gives an interesting account about a man’s constant quest for answers and how this greed becomes the root of his sorrow. It is a good watch for art film lovers. Those seeking mindless entertainment can stay away.

– Sampurn Wire