REVIEW KAHANI RUBBERBAND KI

Producer- Director-Sarika Sanjot

Star Cast- Manish Raisinghan, Avika Gor, Prateik Gandhi, Rajesh Jais, Aruna Irani, Gaurav Gera and Paintal

Genre- Social

Platform of Release- Theatrical

Rating- **

Engaging Drama!

Like earlier films like Janhit Mein Jaari and Helmet, this film also sets out to employ a blend of drama and humor to convey the importance of practicing ‘safe sex.’ Though at the outset, I should concede that it tries too hard to make the point it fails to be an engaging drama due to inconsistencies.

The story is a trite illogical one too about newlyweds — Akash Chaudhary (Manish Raisinghan) and Kavya Patel (Avika Gor) becoming pregnant despite using protection, and how their lives and future plans are shattered. In spite of Aakash using condoms, Kavya gets pregnant. This leads to suspicion in Aakash’s mind that she has probably been impregnated by her very close friend, Rohan (Romil Chaudhary).

Disgusted Kavya returns to her maternal home when Aakash accuses her of infidelity. However, Aakash realizes one day that his condom must’ve been faulty, because of which it may not have served its purpose of avoiding pregnancy. That’s when Aakash drags the condom manufacturing company to court. What separates this film from the others is that, Akash files a complaint against the `V Care Condom manufacturer` not just to protect his relationship with Kavya but also to promote public awareness.

First-time director Sarika Sanjot, who has co-written the film with B S Nirmal Raj, has crafted a ‘socially relevant’ film which makes an attempt to rise above the incoherent script full of loopholes and educate the public about the stigmas associated with condoms, sex, and protection in Indian households. The film is about how Kavya and Aakash become pregnant despite using protection.

The film’s first half is a light-hearted and breezy watch, but the second half becomes too heavy and drawn out to make a point, to the point of making you lull to sleep. The story is set in the city of Banaras, which I should say has been captured beautifully in the film. Faroukh Mistry’s cinematography deserves mention for its skillful exploration of the city’s backstreets, ghats and neighborhoods.

As far as performances are concerned, Manish Raisinghan, who bears a striking resemblance to Ranveer Singh, makes a sparkling debut and does quite well as Aakash. Avika Gor is just about okay in the role of Kavya. Pratik Gandhi lends fine support as Akash’s friend and shopkeeper turned advocate Nanno. It is a pleasure to watch the good old dependable actor Aroon Irani as advocate Karuna Razdan.

Rajesh Jais (as Aakash’s father, Suryakant), Meenakshi Sethi (as Aakash’s mother), Hemang Dave (as Kavya’s father), Kanwarjit Paintal (as the judge), Gaurav Gera (as Dr. Udit Narayan), Amit Singh Thakur (as Nanno’s father) and Romil Chaudhary (as Rohan) provide more than reasonable support.

The film, though it has been released at a time when the audience is in a receptive mood to receive films which set out to spotlight issues around taboos in the country well, suffers from the handicap of its predictable storytelling, but passes muster for one time viewing