Storyline: Nukkad Natak is a coming-of-age Hindi drama about two youngsters. Molshri (Molshri) is a rebellious student studying at the prestigious ZIT. She is full of fighting spirit and can’t stand injustice. She leads their university’s street play (nukkad natak) group called Abhay.
Shivang (Shivang Rajpal), her classmate, is the opposite as he is shy and introverted. Joining Abhay through Molshri’s insistence provides him with new meaning in life as they throw light on various social evils through the group.
Once, the canteen owner mistreats the canteen worker Mukund (Lalit Saw). Molshri feels for Mukund. She decides to teach the canteen owner a lesson by taking a rather extreme step. She drags Shivang too in her plan. This incident becomes life-altering for the two students as it gives them a chance to make a small but significant change in the society.
Review: Rebellious nature comes naturally to students, especially those who have a fetish for an art form. Nukkad Natak taps onto that quality of students through the character of Molshri. But instead of making her and her friend take on some larger-than-life mission, it keeps things realistic and simple.
Molshri and Shivang are shown working at a grass-root level by focusing at making a small change. It seems like director Tanamaya Shekhar, as a writer, believes that the situation of our society is such that one can’t hope for a large change by just two individuals and we would require many Molshris and Shivangs to bring in a major change. This is also where the film reminds you of the classic Swades (not implying that it is similar to the Ashutosh Gowariker movie in any way).
Nukkad Natak carries on this task by keeping the narrative fast-paced with some moment or the other moving you every now and then. The unspoken bond between the two protagonists is one of its biggest triumphs. But the biggest one is the pre-climax where the title of the movie is justified.
The film also never lets you feel that it is made through limited resources; the production value is up-to-the-mark. It also doesn’t lag behind on the technical front like the cinematography, editing and background score.
The casting is perfect too. Molshri lives and breathes her character throughout and brings across various moods with ease. Shivang Rajpal is perfect in the role of an under-confident guy who doesn’t shy away from showing his emotions. Nirmala Hajra, who plays Chhoti from the Bagula Basti, is realistic to the core. Danish Hussain is memorable in a cameo.
There aren’t any major negative points. A few developments happen easily or conveniently. Also, a theatre group like Abhay is bound to have a few more rebellious students like Molshri. A little bit of importance could have been given to one or two of them.
Overall: Nukkad Natak is a moving coming-of-age saga about two students’ efforts in bringing a small social change. It is an example of true independent cinema.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Director: Tanmaya Shekhar
Producers: Molshri, Medha Khanna and Tanmaya Shekhar
Writer: Tanmaya Shekhar
Cast: Molshri, Shivang Rajpal, Nirmala Hajra
Also read: Khalid Ka Shivaji review: Worth watching for its portrayal of current social reality
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