On the face of it, Hope and a Little Sugar is an earnest heart-warming film, one of the best from Tanuja Chandra. Yet, it doesn’t seem to hold together. You watch it unwearyingly but forget it as soon as the show is over; it’s not affecting enough to linger on. The problem would be two-pronged. First is the timing; Hope... hits the theatres a bit too late in the day. Chandra focuses on a disaster like 9/11, which has been minutely covered by the media, which has been well explored in cinema, even prompting Naseeruddin Shah to turn to direction. Such intense media scrutiny has its inexplicable and unfortunate effects—somehow the devastation doesn’t seem to move and stir you profoundly any more.
Hope... doesn’t add any searing, new emotional dimension to the tragedy. It should have been gritting and realistic but gets all simplistic and soft-focus. Ali Siddiqui (likeable Sial) is a struggling photographer getting philosophical lessons on image-making from some random American who tells him his work lacks "intimacy" and "vulnerability". As if on cue, Ali gets mistaken for some Sukhbir by a confectioner called Saloni Oberoi (a relaxed, over-smiling Chaudhury), who makes desi ladoos and calls them some silly French names. He falls moonily in love with her and attends her sardar family’s dinner party where everyone thinks he’s Sukhbir. How come? He also gets his heart broken on realising Saloni is blissfully wedded. Pronto, Ali’s photographs become "vulnerable". Then 9/11 strikes and claims Saloni’s husband. Unable to cope with the grief, his mother (Mulay, quietly effective) begins talking to the photo of the son, father (on-the-edge Kher) believes the son isn’t dead but only missing and Sikhs on the streets and pubs start getting mistaken for Arabs by angry Americans.
Chandra films 9/11 obliquely and discreetly. Yet, the biggest problem for me comes right at the start. Imagine the credits of a serious film beginning with a blatant sponsorship tag: "Sweetened by Sugar Free Natura". Commercial support is essential for the survival of independent cinema, but shouldn’t we draw a line somewhere?
High Fives
Bollywood
1. Krazzy 4
2. U Me Aur Hum
3. Race
4. Khuda Kay Liye
5. One Two Three
Hollywood
1. The Forbidden Kingdom
2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
3. Prom Night
4. 88 Minutes
5. Nim’s Island
Music Videos
1. ****:Live in Phoenix (Fall Out Boy)
2. Live in Las Vegas: A New Day (Celin Dion)
3. Live from Philadelphia (John Legend)
4. How to...Megastar Live! (Blue Man Group)
5. Farewell I Tour: Live from Melbourne (Eagles)
Courtesy: Film Information
