Titli (Shashank Arora), the youngest of three brothers, tries to escape his family roots. But to no avail.
Kanu Behl dives headfirst into this harsh environment with unshakeable confidence, creating a world in which corruption seeps deep into everyday lives and women must muster up the willpower to survive.
Storyline
Titli Drama is a captivating, dark tale of family dysfunction in Delhi. The characters are relatable and the plot makes you consider how inner beauty trumps external appearances; furthermore it emphasizes greed as an obstacle that brings on misfortune for everyone involved.
Behl and his cast do not attempt to hide from this grim existence. Close-ups of these dysfunctional families grab our attention and provide insight into a world far removed from sleek showrooms and gourmet eateries.
Neelu’s cynicism is refreshing, as she refuses to allow her brother’s violent lifestyle define her. Instead, she sets her own plan into motion including marrying Titli when he has been severely beaten both by police and Vikram’s men; their eyes meet briefly during an intimate yet terrifying scene which propels the movie forward.
Characters
Titli’s innocence and desire for an extraordinary love story make her an endearing protagonist, while her relationship with Garv Mehta, whose sophistication elevates the story, is captivating. Their difference in backgrounds and upbringings creates intriguing drama; while Rahul – Titli’s antagonist in this story – adds tension as he manipulates Titli to achieve his own goals.
Kanu Behl and Sharad Katariya’s characters’ dilemmas come to life with unflinching accuracy on super 16mm film stock shot in Delhi; cinematographer Siddharth Diwan captures their dark inner world with incredible immediacy. While there are moments of violent disproportion – for instance when Bawla swears profanities instead of shopping – nothing feels gratuitous or exploitative here; in fact the characterisation never feels gratuitous either, showing Behl’s skill as a director who also shows his daringness as an accomplished director.
Direction
Titli’s expression gives him away, betraying no hope but only an intense longing to escape his family’s grasp. Behl captures Titli’s grim reality perfectly while using sparing frames to convey this stark reality.
Titli is a vivid depiction of modern-day opportunists living off scraps from other people’s lives. The film presents Delhi’s underbelly as seen through their eyes; unapologetic in its grimy approach, this grimy portrayal lingers deeply into your consciousness like an open wound.
Performances were outstanding; Sharat Kataria and Kanu Behl’s script was both entertaining and heart-wrenching; Ranvir Shorey and Amit Sial excelled as lead actors, marking Kanu Behl’s powerful directorial debut; however some scenes could have been faster-paced; nevertheless Titli stands out for its realistic approach, making it one of the year’s most haunting and thought-provoking Hindi films.
Acting
Titli will captivate audiences because its characters feel so real – as though they could be your neighbours or people from your hometown. Perhaps you studied together, sold second-hand motorcycle parts to you or even had their scooter bump into your scooter at a traffic signal! Thanks to Super 16 film format, these characters come to life more vividly than ever.
Kanu Behl’s debut as director proves a mastery of Delhi’s murky back alleys, sabzi mandis and garages; his script is uncompromising and grimy.
Ranvir Shorey gives one of his finest performances ever as Vikram, the rage-filled thug. He is brilliantly supported by Amit Sial as Bawla (scheming middle son), Shashank Arora as Titli (wretched face conveying despair and longing), and Shashank Arora (Titli’s hopeless pleas to escape). Though its dark subject matter provides hope for change; showing how inner beauty can triumph over outer appearances and greed; finally teaching us all that no family can remain entirely happy in today’s cruel world.
