More offline than online connections.
Synopsis:
Sonali says, to survive in Mumbai, you don’t need a college degree- just b*lls! She, along with her band of ghetto boys runs a thriving business providing broadband to a sprawling Mumbai neighborhood. Her childhood sweetheart returns from the United States and helps bring her small enterprise into the 21st century. Complications arise when SHINING INC, a huge corporation run by the self made Vaghela (Anupam Kher) wants her out to complete their monopoly of Broadband Internet in the city. Sonali refuses… and it’s war! The film incorporates themes about the growing nexus between corporations and politicians, and the increasing helplessness of the ordinary citizen in the face of greedy corporations. This is a character driven, edgy survival drama of a girl and her rag-tag family of internet cable technicians for whom Sonali Cable is more than a livelihood… it’s their home!
Acting:
Ali Fazal – He does his usual bit which is no different from his previous film Bobby Jasoos. A talented actor for sure but he has no scenes to exhibit his talent in this female oriented subject.
Rhea Chakraborty – She seems quite a misfit as the bold, brazen Maharashtrian girl who manages an internet connection business. She tries her level best to carry the film on her shoulders but fails since the scenes don’t make her character endearing.
Raghav Juyal – A scene-stealer and standout from the crowd. He is lovable and cute and touches the heart strings in most scenes. Will go places.
Anupam Kher – Has a great get-up with weird and whacky mannerisms. Quite quirky in his dialogues, loved his performance.
Swanand Kirkire – A writer bu profession in an unusual avtar. The script fails to make his character dynamic. Yet Kirkire comes natural in a different role.
SMITA JAYAKAR – Perfectly poised and does absolute justice to her role.
Script & Direction:
Charudutt Acharya dabbles with the story, screenplay and direction. The premise of the plot is interesting, some moments are memorable. Somehow as a director, the film pace goes low profile unlike the thrilling moments which grip the audiences interest. Maybe the intention was to steer clear from the usual dramatics normally resorted to by most Bollywood film directors.
A good job for a clear-cut execution and effective cheat shooting shots to compromise on the budget.
Music: Ankit Tiwari and Mike Mccleary do a good job but somehow the songs have failed to be promoted adequately to become hit numbers.
Box-office forecast:
Sonali Cable will not be able to sustain at the box-office due to average promotion. The main starcast do not have a fan-following and no euphoria has been created at the marketing stage. The film will do average business and may not cover its costs despite having Ramesh Sippy as a co-producer.
Cast: Ali Fazal, Rhea Chakraborty, Raghav Juyal, Anupam Kher, Swanand Kirkire, SMITA JAYAKAR
Director: Charudutt Acharya
Producer: Ramesh Sippy, Rohan Sippy, Roopa De Choudhury
Production House: Ramesh Sippy Entertainment
Music: Ankit Tiwari, Mike Mccleary
Cinematography: Sudhir Palsane
Editing: Aarif Shaikh
Story/Writer: Charu Dutt Acharya
Action Direction: Amar Shetty
