'Roam Rome Mei', a strong and much needed commentary on gender, misogyny and sexism, turns out to be a powerful directorial debut by Tannishtha Chatterjee. The film is further supported by the most convincing portrayal of an elder brother by Nawazuddin Siddiqui who goes to Rome looking for his missing sister. What the narrative does most wonderfully is offer a sharp critique of gender dynamics in contemporary India which still refuses to allow its women to have a mind of their own. It opens with a shot of Siddiqui’s character, Raj, on a video call with a woman who the viewer soon finds out to be his sister.

<h2>As the story progresses, the viewer is further made to realise that this Raj is different from all the other Rajs we are used to seeing in the Indian cinema space. Unlike all his namesakes before him, he will make you sit up and pay attention to all your internalised sexism. </h2>Needless to say, the strength of the film lies in the way it establishes a strong feminist premise and follows it through right till the end, using the point of view of a male character, as if, almost urging the tools of patriarchy to introspect and change. 

Unlike films which often fall in the trap of romanticising the foreign land, the film offers a balanced and adequately de-glamourised version of Rome to the viewer. Further, as Raj finds himself unable to differentiate between dream and reality, the narrative acquires a life of its own. The mystery builds up to involve and frustrate the viewer, already struggling to make sense of what is truly going on. Where did Reena go? Why is no one - past lovers, police, her brother - able to track her? But most importantly, who is Reena truly? Is she the girl who wears kurtas and returns home to follow her seven-thirty-curfew or is she the curly-haired woman in summery dresses who aspires to be an architect, constantly struggling to step out of the shadow of discrimination and lack of education by a family which prioritised her brother over her?

<h2>The film hits home too close for comfort, and might even be triggering for several women. The beauty of the narrative lies in the fact that 'Roam Rome Mei' is the story of everywoman. </h2>This is precisely what makes it an intimate and moving experience for those who have felt discriminated against and dreamed of a reality where they could truly be themselves. On his wild-goose-chase to bring his sister back, a la true patriarch and son who has to ‘uphold the honour’ of his family, Raj finds himself unlearning all that he had established about gender identities, location of women in society, sexuality, and most importantly, Reena. Once again, Siddiqui does not disappoint in the delineation of a repentant brother desperate to find his sister. 

Another strength of the film lies in the manner in which it borrows from the genre of dramedy. This borrowing, which Chatterjee accepted in response to a question by the author, organic in nature, enriches the narrative manifold. The most intensely moving scenes are allowed to be diffused by an unexpected quip or witticism, making them wholesome and balanced. Towards the second half, the film runs the danger of sagging and becoming slightly threadbare. However, Chatterjee’s direction soon pulls it together making it a well-rounded product highly recommended for Indian viewers. 
Written by Rosheena Zehra

Roam Rome Mei | Review | Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Tannishtha Chatterjee

Methi Ke Laddoo is a story of two sisters who are polar opposites of each other, and how sometimes jealousy can creep in over issues that are totally not in our hand. But thank god for Indian mothers, who have dish for every occasion and a solution to every problem. Watch this light hearted drama now.

Methi Ke Laddoo | Short Film of the Day

Sometimes it is more about the messenger than the message. This beautiful little short by Amazon India is the story of an obstinate brother on Rakshabandhan, who'll go to any lengths to see his sister smile.

Deliver The Love | Short Film of the Day

When Baz Luhrman says your siblings are a link to your past and most likely to stick with you in the future, does it hold true for all sibling equations? The short film will engage with this concern as it takes you into the life of two sisters, one studying on the eve of her exam, the other having just returned from a long day at work. As the two find themselves at the centre of several subsequent quarrels, Sweet and Sour progresses to reveal a grave truth. Does a relationship between two sisters always have to be of love and nurturing? How does this truth about their relationship affect their already conflicted equation? The film, in its short duration, would raise and attempt to answer all of these questions, and in the process, leave the audience with a unique aspect of a sibling relationship.

Sweet and Sour |  Short Film of the Day

When you deal with a topic like gender, there is the danger of running into repetition and monotony. The content around the topic has set the bar very high and a film has to be especially unique to eschew these problems. It would be safe to say that Kahi Suni, the second episode of the series - Sisterhood Tales by Blush, comes midway in this journey. When it starts, it does not set the horizon of expectation too high - it's the story of yet another woman who's trying to balance work with her family's expectations. However the short film becomes a little more interesting as she sits in her cab to find a woman driver. From there, the narrative only goes higher and higher. During the course of her ride, she also finds out that the driver is specially abled. In the process, the film leaves the viewer with a subtle but impactful message about how we view people who are different from us. It further reiterates that simply by standing up for each other, we can make our struggles easier, even if slightly so.

Kahi Suni | Short Film of the Day

The short film by Naik Foundation presents to the viewer a lovely portrayal of a brother-sister relationship. As the former wakes up to go to school, the latter ensures that he is ready in time for it every morning. However, amidst all of this, the attention is drawn to the fact that she is not given same opportunities as her brother regarding education. By using the innocence of the little boy, the film not only draws attention to it, but also makes the viewer question it. There is further an exploration of how even well-meaning Indian households might not give education of the girl child the attention it deserves and urgently needs.

Dahi Cheeni | Short Film of the Day

In a world of stereotyping and fixed gender identities, anything which is a flight from the normative is a fresh breath of air, wouldn't you agree? This ad film, showing a celebration of Rakshabandhan between two sisters, is the perfect example of that. In the most subtle manner, the film dethrones the superiority of one gender over another and leaves the viewer with the warmest fuzzies in their heart. After all, it is a festival of celebrating your sibling. Why let societal constructs stop that in anyway, right?

Sisters | Short Film of the Day

Sometimes ignoring yourself while taking care of others becomes an unconscious choice and we don't realise when we leave the self behind. One such story is Sibling's Love which shows a girl looking after two of her younger brothers. While she goes around taking care of the house, paying EMIs, ensuring that the needs of her siblings are met, she comes last on her priority list. But maybe this Diwali, someone else has noticed this too, and therein lies a little surprise. What is it? Watch this short film to find out.

Sibling's Love | Short Film Nominee

The film is an endearing story about a brother introducing the viewer to his sister. The film is equipped with a deep desire to tell its story, and offers a sincere attempt at that despite its limited resources. Marked by a piano rendition of Que Sera Sera, and a subject who is defined by her eccentricities, the film puts its narrative across. It's tone and approach reveals the filmmaker's exposure to films in the same strain as Amélie or Wes Anderson's body of work. Consequently, it employs exaggerated characteristics of its main subject to generate humour, but never at the expense of the character herself, making it a sweet, heartfelt product worked upon and presented forth by a sibling duo.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links