Morning Raga

Cast: Shabana Azmi, Prakash Kovelamudi, Perizaad Zorabian, Nasser, Lilette Dubey
Direction: Mahesh Dattani

Morning Raga is a short and sweet movie. It brings a synthesis of the traditional and modern, fusion of classic carnatic music and jazz, simple English language interspersed with comic snippets in Telegu, and countryside village setting alternated with trendy coffee shop culture.

The one and half hour movie revolves around three characters, one accident and some melodious music. Swarnalata (Shabana Azmi), Abhinay (Prakash Kovelamudi) and Pinky (Perizaad Zorabian) are connected together by a bus and car collision on the bridge, which happened 20 years ago. Swarnalata loses her son and gives up her singing ambitions after the accident due to guilt, fear and penitence. Abhinay loses his mother (Swarnalata’s music accompanist) in the accident, but has inherited her musical talent. Disappointed with his career, he seeks to make a mark in music and add a dimension to life. In spite of the constant nagging and denigration by his condescending father who has no love for music, he starts a band. He soon realizes his music lacks depth and soul and seeks Swarnalata to add the missing note in his music. Pinky, an urbanite, friend and band member is flimsily threaded together because of her father, whose drunk driving caused the collision. She wants to seek redemption by doing her best towards the village people connected with the accident. Together they make fusion music; realize their dreams; gain new relationships, and revive themselves; how they succeed to do it is the story.

Mahesh Dattani is known to carve stories where there are moral choices in human relationships. He believes tension forms a strong base of relationships which gives intensity to his characters. Here too
Shabana Azmi’s, Prakash Kovelamudi’s and Nasser’s characters reflect this in their performances. Lilette Dubey as pinky’s mother also brings color and some charming moments to the movie.

In spite of the storyline being weak and predictable, the sublime music and the fresh and simplistic approach make the movie interesting.

Also on http://www.sawf.org/bollywood/reviews/morningraga.asp?pn=Bollywood&cn=33