Think Titli aka butterfly and we think all things pretty. Say Yash Raj Films and we expect all things extravagant. And yet Kanu Behl’s directorial debut is a genuinely “hatke” affair. That’s because in spite of having Dibakar Banerjee (whom he assisted in films like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and Love Sex aur Dhokha) and Aditya Chopra (the patriarch of candy floss) as the producers, the movie is nothing like what we would expect a typical Yash Raj film to be. No big stars or exotic foreign locations. In fact, this striking lack of money and glamour is evident both in the frugal setting of the film and in the preoccupation of its principal characters.
Vikram, Bawla and Titli along with their father (played by the director’s own dad, Lalit Behl) live in the congested lanes of Delhi surrounded by squalor and suppressed dreams. They all need money and resort to all kinds of illegal activities to get their hands on some dough. Titli, the youngest of the three wants the money to buy a parking space in a mall. The most recognisable face in the film, Ranvir Shorey, as his eldest brother won’t hear any of it. They must try to stick together and make ends meet he insists. At the behest of Bawla, played by the very competent Amit Sial, they get Titli married to Neelu to help improve the situation. So in walks Shivani Raghuvanshi, who also helps improve the film! Shivani and Shashank Arora put up a scintillating show. Neelu’s unflinching determination and Titli with his quiet rebellion aren’t the typical newly-weds we are used to seeing on the big screen. Infact there is very little that is regular or mainstream in this film.
Titli is special because it doesn’t aim to please. The story telling is gritty and the characters and their motivations real. In fact, with the help of editor Namrata Rao, director Kanu Behl manages to make the first half a very engaging watch. However, post interval the tension ceases and his vision seems to dwindle. It’s all very well to make a realistic film but to bombard us with incessant visuals of people spitting or vomiting is not just distasteful but also seems unnecessary.
Nevertheless, Titli stands out because of its performances and riveting first half. It is dotted with abuses and violet scenes so go for it only if you can stomach reality that isn’t sugar-coated. I’ll give it 3 QUINTS OUT OF 5.
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