After receiving several awards in the International movie festivals, B.A.Pass finally hits the theatres. Based on a short story The Railway Aunty by Mohan Sikka, B.A Pass is a dark film, set in and around Delhi. The movie seems to be a familiar premise and intelligently transforms into an unusual zone before you start predicting, and ends on a very raw and realistic note.
The movie begins with the demise of the parents of a small-town boy (Mukesh), at an age where losing the loved ones forever feels more like a betrayal than an emotional loss. He moves to Delhi to his aunt’s place where he is considered a burden and treated like a help. His life changes on the day when he is sent for help for a rich woman – Sarika (Shilpa Shukla). She seduces him in the very first meet and gradually prepares him to be a male escort for the rich married women in her elite circle.The proceedings take a twist when the secret business comes into light. The turbulences Mukesh faces in the due course of the events and how he becomes the victim of the mean people around him forms the rest of the story.
The movie is extremely bold for an Indian screen, with a high dosage of sex scenes. The director had no qualms in showing some sleazy and kinky scenes too. However, they are well complemented with a very strong story, which makes it a very special execution. The atypical proceedings make you curious and engaging enough, thanks to the short duration of the movie (1hr 47 min).
Technically, B.A.Pass is a well-made movie with commendable cinematography and an amusing screenplay. Performances are top-notch too. Shadab Kamal as Mukesh is far more than perfect. He emoted impeccably in various phases, be it the gaining self-confidence or the losing innocence. Shilpa Shukla is extremely real and doesn’t leave any stone unturned to deliver what the character has to contribute (yes! you can read between the lines). Her voice and acting are an asset to the mean, lustrous woman she plays. Divyendu Bhattacharya plays an important role too in the second half and does it with élan. Rajesh Sharma was brief but good as usual. Deepti Naval makes a friendly appearance as lonely woman, whose husband is on the hospital bed.
Overall, B.A.Pass is a very interesting well-executed tale with an unusual premise. On the contrary, the extreme bold sequences might keep it away from the majority of audience. Both the factors complement each other making it an award-wining International cinema. But to majority of the Indian audience, the first factor is boon and the second one, a bane.
Reviewed by Rag Mayur
