Backstage review: Anjali Menon weaves a simple yet beautiful tale about returning to roots, rekindling friendships

Backstage plot

Kanya (Rima Kallingal) and Guari (Padmapriya), who were once close friends at a dance school, part ways with one venturing into the world of cinema while the other opting to become a dance teacher. Years later, they meet again at the green room of their alma mater.

Backstage review

Anjali Menon made a delightful debut in feature films with Manjadikuru, which was steeped in nostalgia of the 80s Kerala. With Backstage, an episode in the anthology Yuva Sapno ka Safar, Anjali Menon once again traces the journey of two friends who return to their roots

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Backstage opens with a shot of the not-so-clean yet famed backwaters of Kerala. Backstage also tells us that the facade of fame also melts away upon a closer look as Kanya, despite moving into the glitz and glamour of the cinema world, only has two award nominations to her credit. Through the short glimpse into the lives of Kanya and Gauri, the anthology segment explores themes of moving on, whether from their present lives or past grudges.

Much like Anjali Menon’s last film, Wonder Women, Backstage too, though set in Kerala, has its characters mostly speaking in English, but we do get spatterings of Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil. But once you get into the world that Anjali Menon has set up, language doesn’t sound so jarring, though we are told that they talk in English because they are in a convent. The Bangalore Days director, who has also penned movies such as Dulquer Salmaan’s Ustad Hotel, has once again written a beautiful story that resonates with the viewers.

Some of the best moments are set in the green room, where the two women, who have long lost touch, are separated by a thin dupatta acting like a makeshift curtain (like how the actresses and artistes used to get ready in the earlier times). We have one character even saying, ‘Ever heard of trailer?’.

Manesh Madhavan’s beautiful frames capture the contrast between Kanya and Gauri, especially during the mirror sequence.

Both Rima and Padmapriya fully justify their casting with their nuanced performance. The actresses are also credited for the choreography, and that deserves a special mention. The rest of the cast also ably supports them.

Backstage verdict

Anjali Menon’s Backstage is a simple yet beautiful tale about returning to one’s roots and rekindling friendships. Nuanced performances and solid writing make this well-crafted short film worthy of your attention.