Unpaused: Naya Safar review: A soothing anthology of hope & humanity

War Room

Directed by Ayappa KM; starring Geetanjali Kulkarni, Rasika Agashe, Purnanand Wandhekar and Sharvari Deshpande.

Sangeeta Waghmare (Geetanjali Kulkarni) a school teacher is working at a Covid 19 inquiry centre. The unsung unknown warrior is piously performing her duties. One day a call for a bed disturbs her peace and her past dangerously haunts back making her vulnerable.

Ayappa KM tells a disturbing but hauntingly striking story of hope and humanity. The pandemic is used as a tool to showcase the bigger picture and the short film creates a solid impact on the mind and heart while it caresses your soul as well.

Geetanjali Kulkarni is perfect in her portrayal while Rasika Agashe, Purnanand Wandhekar and Sharvari Deshpande provide able support.

The Couple

Directed by Nupur Asthana; starring Shreya Dhanwanthary and Priyanshu Painyuli.

A happily married urban couple Akriti (Shreya Dhanwanthary) and Dippy (Priyanshu Painyuli) have come to terms with the life in the AC era (After Covid) working from home and missing the beaches etc. Things are going normally but one day, unfortunately Akriti loses her job due to the cutting of loss, cost etc during pandemic.

Nupur Asthana remarkably establishes the bonding and understanding between Akriti, Dippy. Their moments are straight out from life and the argument scenes between the couples are realistic.

Shreya Dhanwanthary and Priyanshu Painyuli brilliant performance adds weight to this realistic urban gem on relationships.

Teen Tigada

Directed by Ruchir Arun starring Saqib Saleem, Ashish Verma and Sam Mohan.

Three Thief’s Ajeet (Sam Mohan), Dippy (Ashish Verma) and Chandan (Saqib Saleem) are brought at a factory at a remote area by Anna. A truck full of goods is there at the factory and when Anna is done with the goods the three thieves’ will get their share.

Covid 19 is catching up and Anna delays the deal giving Covid 19 reasons. Chandan, Dippy and Ajeet have their own struggles and how they bond and survive during their stay finds the crux of this dry humor which ends on a positive note.

Ruchir Arun makes the audience travel through various emotions real and surreal in this story of survival where Saqib Saleem, Ashish Verma and Sam Mohan are striking in their roles.

Gond Ke Laddu

Directed by Shikha Makan; starring Neena Kulkarni, Darshana Rajendran and Lakshvir Singh Saran.

Neena Kulkarni an aged single woman prepares Gond Ke Laddu for her daughter in Mumbai who has a small baby. The delivery is done through a courier, the delivery boy Lakshvir Singh Saran is under pressure from his office and has to show results. He escapes major injuries from a road accident but the Granny’s Laddos get destroyed.

The dejected delivery boy returns home and his life partner - Darshana Rajendran comes with a plan.

Shikha Makan offers a sweet relishing and staying story that reassures faith, rekindles life and kisses the meaning of togetherness with hug to humanity and good virtues. Sure to make you teary eyed. The veteran Neena Kulkarni and the young couple Darshana Rajendran and Lakshvir Singh Saran are just superb in this pure little gem.

Vaikunth

Directed by Nagraj Manjule; starring Arjun Karche and Hanumant Bhandari.

Vikas Chavan (Nagraj Manjule) works at a Hindu cremation centre. Covid 19 is on rise and Vikas is very busy in burning bodies one after another. His aged father has tested positive and his nine/ten year old son waits alone at home for his father to return. Life is tough for Vikas and it gets more difficult when the owner of the house asks him to leave the house.

Vikas now stays at the cremation centre with his kid. Amidst worsening situation, hope emerges restoring faith and hope.

Nagraj Manjule gives a multilayered story wrapped in pain, suffering & loss on the outer side but inside it has depth that traces the complexity of human nature, the fear of loss and how the divine hope can emerge from a hopeless situation. The cremation scenes are an eye opener that on one hand may remind of someone of their dear ones while on the other hand some may thank their god of understanding.

Vaikunth by Nagraj Manjule is a thought provoking adage on life and death that travels through suffering and pain but ends with a beaming hope.

Nagraj Manjule is fantastic as Vikas Chavan, the kid is endearing as well and the grandfather is delightful.

Unpaused: Naya Safar Final Words

Unpaused: Naya Safar is a thoroughly fascinating journey of life that travels through a rainbow of emotions in five gems of stories that are heartwarming, heart rendering, thought provokingly profound reassurance of love, positivity and hope that we all need.