Gulmo review: It’s a difficult story of a father and son that is told beautifully

4/5

Story

Indra, a widower lives with his eight-year-old son, Ashu and both of their lives are gradually sinking into the crevice of poverty, caused by the after effects of the pandemic. Indra is a doting father who’s struggling to make the ends meet and he even sacrifices his share of everything to keep his son happy. Meanwhile, his employer shut downs the office without notice and it becomes even harder for him to hold his firm optimism, resolve, and even his son.

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Review

Gulmo is the story of an existential struggle of social Darwinian proportions.
Usually, a good actor is made by reacting attentively in scenes, communicating a wide range of emotions with the eyes, body, and voice with appropriate subtlety. And visionary directors capture them nicely and sew them into the garland of the mise-en-scene.

And rarely do you see them fall into the near-perfect combination.

Actor Deboprasad Haldar who was last seen in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s ‘The Great Indian Murder’ has embodied the character of Indra and I believe he even forgot that he’s acting. His reactions to everything and everyone within the make-believe world of Gulmo were simply overwhelming. Gulmo is backed by Discontinuity Productions and it's an emotionally wrenching journey and the moments trigger the melancholy within you, yet it manages to touchdown on the father-son bond as well. Much of the film involves Indra’s subsequent efforts to keep himself and his child fed and housed, while he avoids dropping his son at his school gate because he missed out on the tuition fees. An innocent big hug from his son Ashu gives Indra’s world a reason to exist. Arannyo Roychowdhury did a decent job of essaying Ashu. Deepak Halder delivered his part with his usual charisma and ease, especially he exchanges words with Deboprasad’s character about an overdue debt. They never tend to speak up loudly because they both know that the child is sleeping inside. The body postures, the chewed-up lines, and the whole backdrop look and sound amazing.

A special mention must go to the cinematographer, Subhadeep Bag who crafted a harsh, grim, desolate, bluntly plain imagery through his lens. Sound plays a very vital role in creating the world of Indra and his son. The elements of diegetic sound made the whole telling more relatable.

Gulmo is written and directed by Tridev and his way of depicting and narrating the story felt organic and heartfelt. A special mention must go for a scene when Indra’s boss asks him to shut the door and leave. Baffled and lost, Indra forgets to remove the rubber stopper from the door but he immediately turns back and closes the door. There’s also a subtle communication of physical and mental submission and the class divide.

Verdict

How you respond to this man’s journey will entirely depend on whether you can relate to their issues or not. It’s a difficult story that is told beautifully.

Gulmo is available to stream on the YouTube channel of Discontinuity Productions.