Principal Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag Kashyap, Ragubir Yadav, Ragini Khanna, Ila Arun, Swanand Kirkire, Deepika Amin

Director: Pushpendra Nath Mishra

OTT Platform: ZEE5

Overview:

Writing is something that is close to my heart. I know the pain and struggle behind every word a writer weaves through his writing. That’s why, when I heard of Ghoomketu, comedy-drama, where the central plot revolves around a small-town writer enamored by the filmy Duniya, I was eager to see the movie. Thanks to ZEE5, it finally found a release platform.

In Ghoomketu, directed by Pushpendra Nath Mishra, we see a whimsical light-hearted coming of age journey of the lead character who runs away from home to struggle for his Bollywood dream of becoming a sought after writer.

The plot takes a goofy turn when his missing report falls in the lap of a corrupt cop played by Kashyap is given one month to find him without even a single photo. Will the cop succeed or will he be transferred is for you to discover in the movie.

Right from the first metaphorical scene establishing the importance of writers in crafting epic stories, the tone is satirical here. The pain, the dejection and the trials of writers trying to find their feet in the filmy world are akin to losing yourself in a mela yet the world of Ghoomketu is gleeful.

Our hero finds joy in the little things that his struggle brings is reflected in the scene where he is scrubbing his feet with stone or quipping over his cutting chai with Bun Maska.

The story has a non-linear format going back and forth between life in his home town Mauna and his life in Mumbai. His scenes with his endearing Santo bua played by a terrific Ila Arun stand out. Watch out for the scene where she is praying in the temple or her interaction with Ghoomketu where she is listening to his story trying to encourage him irrespective of the fact that she didn’t find his idea interesting. She is given an unusual burp which she pulls off with elan.

Just like her, Ghoomketu’s family members have eccentric shades. From a father who is ready to burst out with anger at the drop of a hat played by veteran Raghubir Yadav to a Devdas Chacha played by Swanand kirkire, the small-town milieu is captured with an unusual quirk.

Final words:

Watch the movie Ghoomketu for the actors and watch it if you want to feel the struggle one goes through to make his mark in a city of dreams, Mumbai. In this time of the global pandemic, Ghoomketu makes its entry on an OTT platform, so does our Ghoomketu played by an earnest Nawaazudin Sidiqqui leave a bright trail or fizzle out forms the basic premise of this story? Watch out to find out ☺

Thank you

Priyanka Nair