FILM -LION
DIRECTED BY – Garth Davis
CAST- Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Nicole Kidman , Rooney Mara, David Wenham
LION is an Australian drama film directed by Garth Davis (his feature debut) . Despite of being his first film as a director LION is that film which is roaring now as critically and commercially. And why is that, the answer hides itself in the strong cast, an astonishing true story & amazing cinematography by Greig Fraser. Thanks to his previous experience of shooting India (Zero Dark Thirty).
LION is based on the non- fiction book “A LONG WAY HOME” by Saroo Brierly which depicts his own story. Little Saroo (played by Sunny Pawar ) and his brother Guddu live in a rural India a place name Khandwa seeking out bizarre jobs. But destiny planned something else. One day 5 year old Saroo and his brother got separated & Saroo finds himself in a train. He arrived in Calcutta 1600 km away from his home where he doesn’t know the language and any person & not sure how to go back home to his mother. He spent his time on the streets, on the railway platform. He went to be adopted by an Australian couple (played by Nicole Kidman and David Wenham) . Soon after he finds home away from home. But the past still haunted him in every possible way. 25 years later Saroo (played by Dev Patel) starts his relentless and magnificent journey to find his actual mother by the help of Google Earth.
8 years old Sunny Pawar was choosen from 2000 kids by Garth Davis himself. And he delivered such a powerfull and mature performance in his first film that he literally proves that it doesn’t matter how old you are, it all matters how you act. Dev Patel also succeeds as a man who is exhausted yet not given up to reach his destination . That’s why he bagged the Oscar nomination in best supporting actor category. Where the film is managed to get 6 Oscar nomination in 89th Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Cinematographer Greig Fraser beautifully captured every corner of Kolkata. Whether it’s Busy Howrah Station or it’s Street of Howrah Bridge or it’s busy street of Kolkata. He captures every glimpse of the city. He also bagged the best cinematography award in the ASC (American Society of Cinematography) award.
The film lost it’s track and slowed down in the middle portion, where Saroo completed hi Hotel Management degree and romantically involved with his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). But it’s visually compact by the acting performance of Nicole Kidman (also get Oscar nomination in best supporting actor category) & Rooney Mara (in a very small role). Regardless of complaints Lion astonished me in every way. It is beautifully written , Directed and acted and it’s roaring.
