 A STILL FROM THE MOVIE  | Critic's Rating: Cast: Darsheel Safary, Anupam Kher, Manjari Phadnis Direction: Satyajit Bhatkal Genre: Drama Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes Readers Rating: |
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Tween superhero adventure
Story: Kunal (Darsheel Safary), the cute orphan is packed off from his high profile school after his parents death and sent to his chachaji (Anupam Kher). Problems galore, for chachaji wants his money and not him. Kunal finds two saviors: Magic Uncle who transforms him into superhero Zokkomon and Kittu didi (Manjari Phadnis) who plays momma to the lonely kid. Can Zokkomon fight for justice in a village seeped in superstition and evil?
Movie Review: In an industry which throws up such an abysmal record when it comes to producing viable children's films, any attempt that can slightly hold your interest is more than welcome. And that is where Zokkomon scores. It tells a story that transposes the traditional fight of good over evil onto a kid's battleground and creates a desi superhero that isn't all kitsch alone. Kunal's transformation into the hooded, heavy-voiced, fire-eyed flying vigilante is funky and attention-grabbing for the young imagination.
The film primarily scores a point due to its high production values. No where does the film maker compromise on atmospherics and special effects and the quaint village where the drama unfolds remains visually stirring. More importantly, Zokkomon's super-special appearances have enough dhamaal to keep the kids smiling and cheering. Also, the insistence on providing a scientific edge to the supra-normal stuff ensures this desi Harry Potter unleashes his magic in the realm of realism.
The performances too are warm, with Darsheel adding spontaneity and a charming vulnerability to the lonely superhero act. Anupam Kher is deliciously evil and Manjari Phadnis is her usual vivacious self. Could have been a winner, if there had been fun and games in the film which falls short in the laughs department. Kids love an intelligent laugh, don't they? Too many sad and lonely kids around.
An interesting watch for kids, Zokkomon may be the beginning of a better branch of tween films
Story: Kunal (Darsheel Safary), the cute orphan is packed off from his high profile school after his parents death and sent to his chachaji (Anupam Kher). Problems galore, for chachaji wants his money and not him. Kunal finds two saviors: Magic Uncle who transforms him into superhero Zokkomon and Kittu didi (Manjari Phadnis) who plays momma to the lonely kid. Can Zokkomon fight for justice in a village seeped in superstition and evil?
Movie Review: In an industry which throws up such an abysmal record when it comes to producing viable children's films, any attempt that can slightly hold your interest is more than welcome. And that is where Zokkomon scores. It tells a story that transposes the traditional fight of good over evil onto a kid's battleground and creates a desi superhero that isn't all kitsch alone. Kunal's transformation into the hooded, heavy-voiced, fire-eyed flying vigilante is funky and attention-grabbing for the young imagination.
The film primarily scores a point due to its high production values. No where does the film maker compromise on atmospherics and special effects and the quaint village where the drama unfolds remains visually stirring. More importantly, Zokkomon's super-special appearances have enough dhamaal to keep the kids smiling and cheering. Also, the insistence on providing a scientific edge to the supra-normal stuff ensures this desi Harry Potter unleashes his magic in the realm of realism.
The performances too are warm, with Darsheel adding spontaneity and a charming vulnerability to the lonely superhero act. Anupam Kher is deliciously evil and Manjari Phadnis is her usual vivacious self. Could have been a winner, if there had been fun and games in the film which falls short in the laughs department. Kids love an intelligent laugh, don't they? Too many sad and lonely kids around.
An interesting watch for kids, Zokkomon may be the beginning of a better branch of tween films
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