Berlin review: Serious and Sombre, but Languid

Berlin review: Serious and Sombre, but Languid

What: ‘Berlin’ - craft and claustrophobia collide in Atul Sabharwal’s moody and meditative espionage drama bolstered by sign languages and the sinister.

New Delhi, 1933. The winter of that year witnessed a mellowed frenzy in the intelligence circle. An assassination plot related to the Russian President Borin Yelstin ahead of his India visit is revealed and a deaf-n-mute waiter, Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) is arrested in its connection.

Pushkin Sharma (Aparshakti Khurrana), a school teacher is brought into the imposing government building, called the Bureau, to interrogate Ashok. Because he understands and can interpret sign language. He is meticulously manoeuvred by the sly and extremely manipulative intelligence officer, Jagdish Sondhi (Rahul Bose) with a file of questions. Puskin is under strict instructions, not to forge any emotional bonding with Ashok. But the task descends him into turmoil when he is threatened for his life.

As the narrative unfolds in the claustrophobic confines of the room enshrouded in cigarette smoke and intrigue, the layers and the motives of each of its characters are peeled off deftly by writer-director Atul Sabharwal who made the Bobby Deol starrer ‘Class of 83’ (2020) and ‘Aurangzeb’ (2013), and co-wrote last year’s seminal web series ‘Jubilee’ with Vikramaditya Motwane.

Let me caution you that Berlin is not everyone’s cup of tea – it's moody and meditative, complicated and confusing. Sabharwal narrates a story and urges you to read between the lines and signs, while staging the drama with aplomb and an unmistakable atmospheric charm. Berlin, here refers to a Café or a coffee house as it was called in Delhi during those times where many of the clandestine deals happened. It germinates from a corner of his personal space – he juxtaposes espionage with events from our nation’s political history, which is a daunting task to manoeuvre and subsequently difficult for the audience to assimilate.

 Amid the tension, traps and trunk calls, there are some compelling performances that bless Berlin. Aparshakti exhibits an unassuming talent while interpreting Pushkin’s ethics and vulnerability. Fear shows on his conflicted face, he is understated and calibrated. A scene where meets a person for his matrimony and the conversation that ensues is a reminder to the 90s setting as well as his instinctive approach. Ishwak underwent an intensive sign language training for Berlin and the result shows on the screen – the actor convincingly pulls off his layered character with finesse. But the toughest part is that of Rahul Bose, who navigates Sodhi’s truth and treachery with an unblinking focus. Anupriya Goenka has a vital part here but is given one line in the entire film!

 

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