There is no problem in this world that cannot be solved with hope and a little sugar.” says Tanuja Chandra’s heroine Saloni, who runs a sweat meat in New York. The statement is reassuring even if you pull it out of the context of this movie.
Hope and a little sugar had a delayed release in India as it was being shown in only at international film festivals till now. The issue is quite dated as it deals with the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the 9/11 attacks on the US.
After a two year hunt for distribution, the movie finally opened for the audiences in selected theatres this week through the backdrop of 9/11, Tanuja tries to bring out the mass hatred for the Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs and anyone remotely resembling terrorists.
The story begins with young Ali Siddique (Amit Sial) witnessing Hindu Muslim riots in India, though the director doesn’t make any attempt to classify it. Ali moves to New York and becomes a messenger boy, who loves photography and falls for Saloni (Mahima Chaudhary), not realizing that she is married to Harry( Vikram Chatwal). While Ali is trying to overcome feelings for her, Harry’s father, the colonel (Anupam Kher), is bitter and joins the Muslim hating generation in the US.
From a rosy picture of fun loving Indians settled in the US, dancing and feasting all the while, the story takes a bleak turn. But Tanuja’s story is about hope and ends like that, possibly a little too fairytale- like which is the only grouse I have against Hope & Little Sugar. Nonetheless, you’ll like this film for its focused approach.
Performances by Anupam (barring one scene where is over the top) and Amit were laudable, while, Mahima Chaudhary scores in all departments; looks, dialogue, diction and acting. She is first rate as the young wife who has lost her husband and fighting her father-in-law to keep her friendship alive with Ali.. Suhasini Mullay as the wife bearing the brunt of her husband’s ‘lunacy’ and wanting to let Saloni free is believable. Amit Sial does a decent job while Vikram Chatwal gives one the impression that he is still playing his real father’s son even on screen.. Even the subtler romance brewing between Saloni and Ali is handled well by Tanuja.
This is a movie you would not want to miss.
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