In a Child’s Name: Mehta’s Sophomore Film a Gripping Ordeal
Following up on his 2007 debut, Amal, Toronto based filmmaker Richie Mehta returns to Delhi for his sophomore feature, Siddharth, a rather somber affair about one working class family’s tragedy. With narrative and visual strengths that recall the works of Satyajit Ray and Vittorio Di Sicca, Mehta’s film falls short of being a true comparison to scions of neorealism with a gradual dependence on manipulation via an ever encroaching score that hardly seems at home amidst the jarring bustle of urban squalor. Despite a tendency to force the tragic consequences of the situation, some first rate performances tend to override the film’s smaller faults to concoct a gravely serious and affecting film.
As the opening credits roll we overhear a father, Mahendra (Rajesh Tailang), bid adieu to his young son, Siddharth, off-screen. Upon returning home to his wife,...
Following up on his 2007 debut, Amal, Toronto based filmmaker Richie Mehta returns to Delhi for his sophomore feature, Siddharth, a rather somber affair about one working class family’s tragedy. With narrative and visual strengths that recall the works of Satyajit Ray and Vittorio Di Sicca, Mehta’s film falls short of being a true comparison to scions of neorealism with a gradual dependence on manipulation via an ever encroaching score that hardly seems at home amidst the jarring bustle of urban squalor. Despite a tendency to force the tragic consequences of the situation, some first rate performances tend to override the film’s smaller faults to concoct a gravely serious and affecting film.
As the opening credits roll we overhear a father, Mahendra (Rajesh Tailang), bid adieu to his young son, Siddharth, off-screen. Upon returning home to his wife,...
- 6/23/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.