'Kadvi Hawa': Bitter truth well told

Film: "Kadvi Hawa";

Director: Nila Madhab Panda;

Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Ranvir Shorey, Tillotama Shome, Bhupesh Singh, Ekta Sawant;

Rating: ***1/2

Based on true stories, Kadvi Hawa is a bitter pill that reminds us of the dark winds of change.

Global warming and climate change are caused by human activity. Despite not showcasing any such natural disaster that is destroying the civilization, the film makes a heartfelt point in a straightforward way.

It speaks about the state of the environment, the destruction of our civilization, the plight of the farmers and of the people living in coastal areas.

The narrative begins with close-up shots alternating between a pair of weary feet trudging a beaten path and a headshot moving with a staff till the old man comes preciously close to a cliff in the barren ravines of Mahua in Bundelkhand. The man is blind and this dramatic start sets the ball rolling to the personal story of Hedu, the father of Mukund, a debt-ridden farmer.

Hedu lives with his son Mukund and his family comprising of his wife and two daughters - Kuhu and Pihu. They live a hand-to-mouth existence. His companion is Anapurna - a buffalo he tends during the day.

Hedu lives in constant fear that his son Mukund might commit suicide because of his inability to pay back his loan. As a concerned father, he also approaches a micro-finance bank to check the amount his son, Mukund owes the bank. When he realises that the debt has doubled due to accumulating interest, he is flabbergasted and frightened as he is aware that his son has no means to repay back the loan.

In his endeavour to clear Mukund's debt and unbeknownst to him, Hedu befriends Gunu Babu, the loan recovery officer, who hails from Odisha. Gunu is also referred to as Yamdut, the God of death, as there have been cases of farmers committing suicide after being pursued by him.

Hedu guides Gunu in recovering the loans from other debt-ridden farmers. But soon realisation dawns on him when Mukund goes missing! The guilt-ridden Hedu then laments that the winds of change have already engulfed them.

The plot unfolds in a simply witty and satirical manner especially when Hedu interacts with his curious grand-daughter Kuhu. This is simply evident in practically every scene with her.

Watching them interact is really amusing, especially when he attributes his source of information to the wind. And when the little girl reports to him that a classmate informed her that there are only two seasons, contradicting the statement made in the textbook, Hedu says, "There used to be four seasons, but not now. It feels like the winds have an illness."

That's when you realise the plot is stirring towards matters regarding climate change. And with Gunu's predicament, the director deftly ropes in the Odisha cyclone issue.

Sanjay Mishra is the sun around which the talented supporting cast orbit. He shines brilliantly with his down-to-earth, natural performance. You experience his anxiety and pain as Hedu. He is aptly supported by Ranvir Shorey as the frustrated Gunu, Bhupesh Singh as his reticent son, Mukund, Tillotama Shome as his concerned daughter-in-law and Ekta Sawant as his chirpy grand-daughter, Kuhu. They all add a distinct flavour to their characters.

The background score by Santosh Jagdale is inspiring and hits the right notes. The only song, Main Banjar which comes in the far end of the narrative suitably conveys the essence of the film.

Cinematography by Ramanuj Dutta captures the terrain and the finer nuances of every actor with detailed accuracy.

Overall, sans any entertainment, this slice-of-life film gives us so little to focus on that it wins by default.