Beyond The Clouds movie review: Not Majid Majidi’s best, Ishaan Khatter shines

Beyond The Clouds Movie Details:

Directed by: Majid Majidi

Produced by: Shareen Mantri Kedia

Kishor Arora

Screenplay by: Mehran Kashani

Story by: Majid Majidi

Music by: A. R. Rahman

Cinematography: Anil Mehta

Edited by: Hassan Hassandoost

Production company: Zee Studios

Distributed by: Zee Studios

Release date 20 April 2018

Country: India

Language: Hindi

Movie Rating:3/5

Movie Review:

At the outset, Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi captures your attention with a stunning opening shot that draws you into his version of Mumbai. This is not the first time a foreign director has shown the city through his lens while telling a story so intrinsic to it. But Majidi’s perspective isn't bound by the cliché to merely highlight the city's wretched poverty. A veteran storyteller who has won several international awards, his laser-sharp focus on compassion makes him uniquely equipped to weave poignant, human fiction. ‘Beyond the Clouds’ looks at how challenges can bring about a ray of silver lining amidst all the darkness in people’s lives.

Majidi also induces evocative performances from actors making their Bollywood debut. Ishaan Khattar pushes himself well outside of nepotism’s comfort zone in his first acting role. Laying himself bare in challenging scenes, he is quite the revelation as Amir and holds a lot of promise in the hands of a skilled director. Malavika Mohanan is captivating in her honest portrayal of Amir’s sister Tara. She skilfully walks the fine line between passionate and melodramatic. Veteran South Indian actress GV Sharada is a three-time National Award winner who uses her impressive repertoire to bring another mesmerising performance to life. Tannishtha Chatterjee continues to solidify her status as a reliable actress in her small, yet effective role. Meanwhile, watch out for the child artistes who are endearing.

Anil Mehta’s cinematography is equally delightful as he breathes life into Majidi’s vision in some stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression. He presents a different look at some familiar locations in Mumbai while highlighting some new ones. Although being a worthy addition to the skilled technical team, A.R. Rehman’s score falls short of being memorable. Majidi's subject matter might seem to be repetitive, but the famed director's take on redemption is fleshed out by strong performances to make 'Beyond the Clouds' another notable entry in his filmography.

Filming:

A film set resembling slums of Mumbai was reconstructed at Sambhar, Rajasthan. It was in this scheduled when Malavika Mohanan joined to play the lead female role. In April, scenes were filmed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The last shot of the film was canned at a street sequence at Filmistan Studio in Mumbai. Ninety percent of the film was shot on outdoor locations. The filming was completed on May 6, 2017. Talking about the project Majidi says, "Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, whose work I adore, have represented India's culture, rich heritage and the lives of common people to a global audience. These visions and images have stayed in my mind for years and cajoled me to make a film in India. Finally, I'm in Mumbai with a lovely team to narrate a story woven around the lives of common people.

SoundTrack:

The original score and film soundtrack is written and composed by A. R. Rahman. The track "Ey Chhote Motor Chala" was the first single from the soundtrack album. The song portrays into the life of character Amir (played by Ishaan Khatter).