This was one of those movies that you go in knowing nothing about it and suddenly two hours have passed and you have had rewarding cinematic experience.Amal is the name of the lead character, Amal Kumar, a poor auto- rickshaw driver in Delhi who unwittingly gives a ride to a hotel millionaire who ends up leaving him his entire estate. Naturally things are not as easy as that and the family of the rich hotel mogul conspire to alter the changed will of their father.
This movie reaffirms your belief that there is more to life than the constant desire for wealth and the characters are wonderfully written with warmth while staying grounded in reality and not slipping into sentimental gloop even when one of the story lines involves hospitalized child.
Rupinder Nagra owns the character of Amal. Watching him on screen you truly forget you are watching an actor playing a role as his performance is so natural and the dialogue (even with subtitles) so believable.
We also get the pleasure of watching Roshan Seth, a face you might recognize from movies including Proof, Monsoon Wedding, Missippippi Masala, Slipstream, My Beautiful Laundrette and of course his role as Pandit Nehru in Ghandi. His character Suresh is tasked with going out into Delhi and finding Amal to give him the news of what has been left to him but having worked with the millionaire for 25 years and sacrificed so much for his business can he live with all the money going to a complete stranger?
This film was a festival favorite at the Scottsdale Film Festival where it won the public's vote for Best Festival Film and it also opened the sixth annual Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles this year. Check this movie out, you will be glad you did.
Rating: ****
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