Preface –
The team at Drishyam Films seems to have a penchant for insightful and relatable subjects. Dhanak, Ankhon Dekhi and RamPrasad Ki Thehrvi are some of their impressive works which incidentally are a must watch for every film enthusiast.
Introduction –
“The Affair” maintains the legacy of this production house … of what meaningful cinema are all about. Set in Mumbai, the story revolves around a young couple seeking quality time and physical love.
Synopsis –
The film opens up to picturesque Marine Drive with the Arabian Sea in the horizon, glittering under the fading light of the day. A woman ( Khushboo Upadhyay ) in her early 30’s is waiting for someone. Moments later, she is joined by a man ( Amit Sial ) of the same age and the two now face towards the sea. The innocent smiles and physical touches soon evolve into passionate kissing. Their desperation is quite obvious. However, incessant messages from his workplace divert Amit’s focus. Deprived and agitated Khushboo walks away in a huff, warning Amit not to call her.
While Khushboo travels back in a bus, Amit boards a train feeling miserable. When he reaches home he is welcomed by his kids, especially his daughter who shows her a drawing. She also observes lipstick stain on his shirt. She tells Amit that even he has a drawing on his shirt. The revelation turns Amit nervous. He hides the stain and then walks to the wash basin to get rid of it.
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Analysis –
It is a fantastic subject and extremely relatable even in today’s contemporary times. Owning a small house in a city like Mumbai is a dream for many, forget having a big one. In these circumstances privacy is rare and always in short supply. The worst sufferers of extended families and small houses are young couples who are deprived of quality time and physical needs. The director has portrayed the congestion / lack of space creatively by spreading the family members all around the house.
Amit Sial and Khushboo Upadhyay justify the characters that they portray. They actually appear love starved and desperate. Credit goes to the director for extracting these intimate feelings. Cinematography is impressive, especially the beginning and the closing shots. In fact, the last few shots explain the reason why couples meet up in places like Marine Drive and similar habitats. The brevity of shots is yet another aspect which we liked. It gave the story the required momentum.
2017 Hardik Mehta Hardik Mehta 6 Minutes YouTube | Drishyam Films