I Am Hindi Movie

I Am is a very sensible film made with a lot of hard work. A movie like such definitely deserves a watch. Apr 29, 2011 By Mansha Rastogi

The line between commercial cinema and parallel cinema is getting blurred by the day. And now the audience is more open to stories that deal with sensitive subjects. Maybe that's just why many experimental films are getting highlighted. Onir's I Am is one such film. The movie has been doing the rounds of many film festivals and has received overwhelming response everywhere. The highlight of the film has been its 400 co-producers who funded the film post the request put up by filmmaker Onir on social networking site. Now it remains to see whether the contribution of these 400 people turns out to be fruitful or not.

I Am is a film quartet dealing with 4 sensitive relatable topics.

I Am Afia is the story of a woman (Nandita Das) who yearns to have a baby but her husband disapproves it. She later discovers that he is having an affair with another woman who by his child is pregnant. In a bid to make her life worthwhile and fulfill her wish, Afia chooses to conceive a child through artificial insemination.

I Am Megha revolves around a Kashmiri pundit (Juhi Chawla) who owing to the tensions in the valley is forced to move away from her home and re-settle in Delhi. Her angst for being thrown out, her love hate relationship with the valley and the depiction of the condition of people out there is what forms this story.

I Am Abhimanyu is the story of a child abuse survivor (Sanjay Suri) inspired by the true story of Harish Iyer and his struggle to reclaim his own shattered identity after 11 long years of abuse.

I Am Omar reveals the nexus between the police and Male sex workers to blackmail and abuse gay men. It tells the story of how because of fear of society and law Gay men very often get blackmailed and are scared to do anything about it. This film is based on real life stories and incidences.

Onir's I Am sensitively tackles subjects that have subconsciously haunted many people who have found it difficult to reach out to people or come out with it openly. Though a brilliant subject, the film has its own share of flaws. Owing to time restraints, Onir doesn't delve deeper into I Am Megha and I Am Abhimanyu and lets it linger unnecessary. Maybe that's just why the stories appear superficially touched upon and fail to touch you emotionally. However, the smart editing and the tight narration in I Am Afia and I Am Omar make it not only gripping but emotionally stirring and shocking too.

The actors contribute a lot to this film and each and every character stands out. Nandita Das, Purab Kohli, Juhi Chawla, Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Suri, Rahul Bose, Abhimanyu Singh and Arjun Mathur are just perfect. Special appearance by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Anurag Basu is commendable too.

Over all, I Am is a very sensible film made with a lot of hard work. A movie like such definitely deserves a watch.