Besharam
2013 · Directed by Abhinav Kashyap
Original language: Hindi
- action
- comedy
The story
Babli is a street smart car mechanic living in a Delhi orphanage. He is charming and lives life to the fullest. He also steals cars to support his orphanage. He has no sense of right or wrong till he unwittingly hurts the love of his life, Tara. Babli realizes that there is no right way of doing the wrong thing. Babli sets out to fix all the wrongs in his life and he continues to be shameless about it.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated Indian studio colour: sunlit Delhi streets in warm ochre and hot pink, Goa beaches blazing under high noon, and a lot of brightly lit, busy frame space packed with motion. The camera stays lively and mobile, with fast cutting in the chase and driving sequences and bouncy, music-led montages. Music carries much of the feeling, with loud, upbeat film songs and a jaunty comic score that makes the whole thing feel like a sugary road-trip party. The vibe is breezy, cheeky and bright, with a mischievous streak that never lingers on darkness. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with the comedy and romance coming in bursts between song numbers. The lead is a charming scamp whose rough edges soften as he tries to make things right with the woman he loves, and the tone stays playful even when the stakes rise. Violence is slapstick-level scuffles and car chases with no gore, and the romance is chaste, with some suggestive banter. Good for a loud, colourful, low-stakes watch on a lazy weekend, or for people who like musical comedy-romance with a rascal hero and a big, goofy heart.
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