Life must go on...... is a small message to humanity that the movie Chintu Ka Birthday very ably conveys

Manpriya Singh

Chintu is turning six and just as we are introduced to the primary credits, against the backdrop of a decorated fruit tea-cake that is being set with six colourful candles, you know it’s a big day for the little one. His sister has planned a surprise, his nani has made kheer, his mother has got him a new outfit and as for papa, well, he wants to go all out with the celebrations.

Chintu Ka Birthday on ZEE5, ironically, comes at the right time, even though the plot itself depicts the little glitches of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s 2004 in Baghdad, US-led allies have invaded the area; a car bomb has just gone off outside the house, as a result of which school is cancelled. In all the mayhem, then is it any wonder that the creamy cake turns to charcoal black? Even though, you as audience, are invested enough to remember all the while that it’s been in the oven! The credit for conviction goes to the directors. One day, one house and things appear pretty much located in conflict-ridden Baghdad, even though all you see are a few chipped walls.

The only glitches would be a little liberty with certain situations in the script — in a war-torn area Chintu’s two friends come knocking on the door to have a piece of the cake! The landlord, a Shia activist, manages to escape right in front of the eyes of two American soldiers.

However, ironing out the rough edges in the script are the performances by Tillotama Shome (Chintu’s mother) and his elder sister Laxmi (played remarkably well by Bisha Chaturvedi). Vinay Pathak is in form, like he always is, not just lending charm to the character of a water filter salesman but rather elevating it. Despite being a known face, not for a second does he distract. As for Chintu (Vedant Raj Chibber, who was cast after quite a hunt), he does a mighty fine job of playing the titular role. Especially while delivering the monologue, “Saddam Hussain is the king, but what good is he since he can’t do what my father has done — provide clean water to people.”

During promotional interviews, when Vinay Pathak made the statement about how this film was actually just waiting for the ‘right pandemic’, it might have come across as insensitive, but it is something that sounds just apt after a run-time of one hour and twenty minutes. The cake must get cut, life must go on and hope must live on. A little message humanity could well use at this moment!