Movie Review: Satrangee Parachute

We keep harping that we need to make films that cater to not just adults, but also kids. We make films keeping this segment of movie-going audience in mind. We even cast kids in stellar and pivotal parts. But we misfire most of the times. So what are the ‘golden rules’ that make a perfect, compelling kiddie film? One, the maker ought to opt for a theme that would depict kids as kids, not as super-heroes fighting a battalion of baddies. Two, the child protagonist should come across as a hero/winner towards the end. We want our protagonist to succeed, don’t we? Three, a good kiddie movie should not only entertain, but also enlighten the young minds. Also, the plot should be simple, unfussy and uncomplicated. Lastly, the subject material should be treated/executed with dexterity, with utmost sensitivity and a certain maturity. Unfortunately, SATRANGEE PARACHUTE makes no impact whatsoever. It is childish and amateurish! Pappu [Siddhartha Sanghani] flees his home in Nainital with four other friends, leaving their parents angry and worried. Pappu plans to buy a parachute for one of their friends Kuhu [Rajvi Suchak], which explains why the kids decide to flee their homes. The kids face obstacles in Mumbai as they are mistaken to be accomplices of four terrorists, who have also arrived in the city with nefarious plans.

SATRANGEE PARACHUTE lacks an interesting concept and also a convincing screenplay [Pulakesh Bhowmik] to hold your attention. The kid [Pappu] flees Nainital and arrives in Mumbai as if he were going back and forth between Bandra and Andheri. That’s not all, the entire drama in the second hour [the terrorist angle] is so childish that you wonder how it was okayed by the director in the first place. Vineet Khetrapal’s direction is sloppy. Even the music doesn’t help. The only aspect that caught my eye was Soumik Haldar’s cinematography, which captures the scenic beauty of Nainital well. The film has several talented names dominating the cast, but the show belongs to the kids actually. Especially Siddhartha Sanghani, who displays great confidence while enacting his character. Rajvi Suchak has the purity that this role demands. Zakir Hussain and Rupali Ganguli, as Pappu’s parents, are adequate. Kay Kay Menon gets limited scope. Liliput has no role whatsoever. Rajpal Yadav is wasted. Sanjay Mishra deserved a better deal. As for Jackie Shroff, what is he doing in this film? The remaining kids are alright.

On the whole, SATRANGEE PARACHUTE is a poor show all the way.