Musings on 'The Black Cat'.
The Broomstick, The Black Cat and Miss Bellows - that's the order in which the story unfolds in Bhargav Saikia's short film 'The Black Cat, a film adaptation of Ruskin Bond's short story of the same name.
The first thing that one notices is that the film has a very Anglo-Indian feel to it; right from the opening scene with a splendid view of the Mussoorie Library and the British style bungalows that the characters inhabit in. It's never quite sunny in the film and it adds to the mystery element of the plot which is at once both fantastical and supernatural. At the helm of things is actor Tom Alter in the eponymous role of Mr. Bond, in his final acting job. The good news is that 'The Black Cat' provided Tom Alter with an opportunity to sink his teeth into a role which is tailor made for him. He imbued a sense of originality to the role of an aging writer who is at ease with both his Indian and British origins. It's not an easy job to portray the role of a living person but Tom Alter became Ruskin Bond rather than just playing him. Even the Gods couldn't have written a better farewell role for the actor who never quite got roles as per his talent in Indian cinema. And director Bhargav Saikia deserve applause for his ingenious casting.
Another equally talented artiste Shernaz Patel brings to life the character of Miss Bellows with an ease that is addictive and awe-inspiring. Displaying just the right amount of oddity in her body language and demeanour she transports us into her own twisted world of witch craft and sorcery. She along with her black cat - the star of the film - forms the dazzling duo of the film, who takes the film to an another level of illusion and imagery.
The production design by Pooja Ramesh is striking as she skillfully uses antique items and old books to give a feeling of nostalgia, affluence and history. The film is technically sound, especially the animation bits which reminds us of the charm of Harry Potter and his magical world. In short 'The Black Cat' succeeds in its motive of entertaining us with a blend of both the mundane real world and the world of magic that lurks behind it. Ruskin Bond must be proud of the film.
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