Road Movie (Hindi)
Vishnu (Abhay Deol), a restless young man, itches to escape his father's faltering hair oil business. An old truck beckons, which Vishnu sees as his ticket to freedom. He offers to drive the antique Chevy across the desert to the sea, where it has been sold to a local museum. As he sets off across the harsh terrain of desert India, he discovers he’s not merely transporting a battered vehicle but an old touring cinema.
Along the way, Vishnu reluctantly picks up a young runaway (Mohammed Faizal Usmani), a wandering old entertainer (Satish Kaushik) and a striking gypsy woman (Tannishtha Chatterjee - Brick Lane). Together they roam the barren land, searching for water and an elusive fair. The journey turns dire when they are waylaid by corrupt cops and a notorious waterlord. The key to their freedom is the eccentric collection of films and the two forty-year-old film projectors in the back of the truck.
As in 1001 Nights, if the films are good, they live and move on. If the films are boring, they face death in the outback. The journey proves transformative for each of the travelers, but especially for Vishnu who discovers life, love and laughter on the Indian highway.
Road, Movie takes you into a reverie. And you know not if you have walked in at the beginning, end, or the middle of the daydream. You laugh because you don't understand what's going on. You feel sorry because you know the distraught water situation of the country. But is water just a metaphor for the various issues plaguing our society. You interpret and so will I.
They say its about an aimless journey. But you know what happens when an aimless journey becomes a pointless one. Road, Movie does justice neither to the Road nor to the Movie. The film has been made with a specific intention of pandering to the sensibilities of festival juries that aren't very familiar with India. And it's sad, since the film showcases some fiesty performances, great camerawork and soulful music.