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Starring: Rajat Kapoor, Sachin Nayak, Pradip Sagar,
Pradeep Kabra
Direction: Pryas Gupta
Debutant director Pryas Gupta’s Siddharth - The Prisoner
conveys the message of Rig Veda and Gautam Buddha. Rig
Veda teaches that man is a prisoner of his desires and
freedom comes with renunciation.
The film begins with Siddharth Roy (Rajat Kapoor), who
once a famous writer, has just been released from
prison. He has narrowly missed Booker prize. While in
his dingy quarters, he completes another novel typing it
out in the cell. The novel is complete, and once out of
prison, he goes to a cyber café where his briefcase in
which he kept his manuscript, is exchanged with another
similar looking one which is full of money.
Director Pryas Gupta explores the concept of freedom and
imprisonment, in the literal as well and as in an
abstract sense. The imprisonment that he refers to in
the film is more on a spiritual level and how we are all
imprisoned by our materialist desires. In that sense, we
are all prisoners.
Rajat Kapoor as Siddharth, exemplifies brilliance in his
performance so is Sachin Nayak as the cyber café
manager. Among the others, Pradip Sagar and Pradip Kabra
appear the typical gangsters type.
Cast :
Rajat Kapoor
Sachin Nayak
Pradip Sagar
Pradeep Kabra
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Siddharth is quite upset and is in a lot of sorrow about
losing his manuscript. Now, even though he is reconciled
with his son, the new found money fails to bring him any
kind of joy. He desperate wants to get custody of his
son and for this the lost manuscript can restore fame
and reputation in his life.
The
exchanged briefcase contains currency of 20 lakh Rupees.
He is not happy with the cash in his hand, since he had
hopes of getting Booker Prize with his new novel and
possibility of reconciliation with his estranged wife.
Hard cash in the briefcase belonged to a don which was
given to his henchman Pradip Sagar and had to be
delivered to someone else.
The henchman had kept his briefcase at the café and had
gone to a bar. As bag was left with the manager Sachin
Nayak the henchman holds him responsible and even
threatens him to get back the bag with in seven days.
Here, Siddharth occasionally, used to go to meet his
separated son. Now even when Siddharth gets back the
manuscript and while he is contemplating to run away with
his son, he somehow gives up the idea. Siddharth throws
away his most valued belonging - the manuscript as he
thinks that it will attain him nirvana.
Siddharth – the prisoner has an excellent background
score. Mrinal Desai’s cinematography is quite remarkable
despite being so realistic. The film progresses at a slow
pace, it has a few predictable twists and it gets too
preachy showing the sacrifice of earthly desires and
pleasures. Several scenes stretch beyond imagination,
without any intensity or effective outcome. It has a
message though, yet ends with a disappointing climax.
- Aniz Filmvala
Credits &
Crew:
Producer: Walkwater Media, Alliance Media
Director - Pryas Gupta
Story Writer - Pryas Gupta
Cinematographer - Mrinal Desai
Editing - Pryas Gupta, Arindam Ghatak
Screenplay - Pryas Gupta, Hitesh Kewalia
Costume Designer: Isha Ahluwalia, Jeneva Talwar
Music Director: Sagar Desai |
