Film Ferrari Ki Sawari Review

Director: Rajesh Mapuskar
Cast: Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Ritvik Sahore

 

Common men have simple dreams. And when they do aspire to lofty heights, they will leave no stone unturned to accomplish their fantasies. It's what we love. We should cheer for our hero when he's down on his luck, holding our breath when he struggles to overcome the odds.

Ferrari Ki Sawaari isn't something that was put together in a hurry because the actors were available. This was homage to all the young boys who spend countless hours, dreaming of the day when they can wield the bat with the same passion as the master blaster does. It’s a good movie with its heart in the right place.

Ferrari Ki Sawari is a simple story of a talented boy who dreams of making it big in the world of cricket. What makes the narrative interesting is its less-taken route (through a Ferrari) and the ensuing eventful journey. The slick sports car gives that additional momentum to the movie thereby ensuring a roller-coaster ride.

Kayo (Ritvik Sahore) is just a school kid but plays cricket like a professional. Destiny gives him a chance to make it to the Lords Stadium in London for which he would need hefty coaching fees. His father Rustom (Sharman Joshi), an RTO head clerk, who leads a hand-to-mouth living, fails to get any loan.

In the meantime a local corporator's son wishes for a Ferrari in his marriage for which he is willing to pay any amount. In a chance encounter, Rustom manages to get his hands on Sachin Tendulkar's Ferrari which gets him the money. Trouble starts when the honest Rustom decides to give back the Ferrari.

Cricket is the most common sport, Ferrari is the most uncommon car and together they make for a lethal combo in debutante Rajesh Mapuskar's movie. The sport is something that everyone can relate to and the sports car is something that every other person dreams of. At a broader level, the Ferrari also stands as a metaphor for that larger-than-life aspiration of any individual that might seem unattainable at the outset but isn't wholly impossible.

Humour and drama go hand-in-hand in the movie and the diverse genres never overshadow each other at any point. Such is the beauty of the screenplay penned by Rajesh Mapuskar and Vidhu Vinod Chopra that it makes you laugh in one scene and gets a lump in your throat in the very next. Rajkumar Hirani keeps the dialogues straightforward and lifelike and the lines leave an impact without the need of any dramatic punch. The minimalism with which Hirani sketches the story makes you easily identify with the protagonist's dilemma. Despite the random and rampant ride that the Ferrari sets on, the narrative at no point complicates itself and steers away from any slapstick tendencies.

Boman Irani, as the grandpa, who's had a bitter past with the game of cricket and doesn't approve of the sport anymore, makes for a conventional character. But the subtle scene where he faces his opponent from heydays (Paresh Rawal) who now heads the cricket board makes for a poignant moment. On the contrary, the Marathi corporator and his son, who contribute towards the comic track, lose their distinctiveness after a while. The son's fascination for Ferrari, the father's mission for samuhik vivah and their mutual discord do not pass muster and, more or less, remain peripheral to the central plot.

The tale largely has a very pragmatic approach so it is somewhat surprising that the movie opts for a very suitable end. Also Sharman Joshi's melodramatic outburst in the pre-climax doesn't gel with the screenplay's otherwise out-of-box thinking. Most importantly, after having a symbolic representation of Sachin Tendulkar throughout the movie, it seemed quite unnecessary to get his body double in the last frame. However, what makes up for these minor inconsistencies is the fact that the movie has a heart of its own and is able to strike a chord with the average audience.

This is director Rajesh Mapuskar's first outing as a director and he should be given full credit for a screenplay which steers clear of subplots, sexist jokes or the general paraphernalia foisted on hoping to make the movie a hit. The story zigzags between real, fantasy and make-believe and bizarre co-incidences which is a formidable task for any director leave alone a first timer.

Rajesh Mapuskar does succeed in extracting decent performances from the whole cast. Sharman Joshi, as an uncertain and shy guy with a constant smirk on his face that tries to hide his inner sorrows, skillfully underplays his part. Occasionally he seems too passive but is still likeable. Boman Irani, as the unkempt grandpa, is dependable as always. From his conflicts to eccentricities, this actor can give lessons on how to remain in character. Ritvik Sahore is neither sugary-sweet nor cacophonously cranky like most child actors and comes up with an engaging act. Aakash Dabhade and Deepak Shirke as the duo in search of the missing Ferrari are hilarious. Seema Bhargav and Satyadeep Mishra are proficient. Paresh Rawal is impressive in his two-scene cameo.

Overall, it is praiseworthy to watch with family.