Genre: Drama
Director: Tanuja Chandra
Producers: Scott Pardo and Glenn Russow
Music Director: Wayne Sharpe
Singers: Sonu Nigam and Jassi
Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhry, Amit Sial, Suhasini Mulay, Vikram Chatwal, Ranjit Chowdhry, Paul Barry, Nicoye Banks, and Shilpa Guha
Release Date: April 18, 2008
Release Date: April 18, 2008
’Hope and a Little Sugar’ created a lot of pre-release hope in the mind of audience, especially in relation to Tanuja Chandra’s direction. Only some of them seem to have been realized. Though the subject chosen for the film is extremely good, its presentation could have been somewhat better. The movie rightly dwells on the prejudices that seem to make us misunderstand people even before getting to know them. At the same time, it emphasizes on the fact that it is very important to let go of the pain that surrounds us.
Tanuja has taken two completely opposite individuals, a Muslim and a Sikh, in the backdrop of 9/11 and made the audience see how biasness can often hold back people from knowing the complete truth. However, one major flaw in the script is that one of the main characters, Harry (Vikram Chatwal), whose death forms the turning point of the movie, is not given enough time to create an impact. Not only has the audience, even his wife (Mahima Chaudhary) seemed to have gotten over his death way too quickly and easily.
There are times where a little subtlety could have done the trick, like showing Colonel’s (Anupam Kher) patriotism through a living room, filled with Indian flags. Even Mahima’s wardrobe could have done with a little less style. As far as the performances go, Anupam Kher is, as usual, his brilliant self. You can actually feel his pain and anguish through his eyes. Even Suhasani Mulay, as Anupam’s wife, is too good. The only weakness in this case is the main protagonist, Amit Sial, who seems to be clueless rather than someone with contained emotions. All in all, the film is just about average.
There are times where a little subtlety could have done the trick, like showing Colonel’s (Anupam Kher) patriotism through a living room, filled with Indian flags. Even Mahima’s wardrobe could have done with a little less style. As far as the performances go, Anupam Kher is, as usual, his brilliant self. You can actually feel his pain and anguish through his eyes. Even Suhasani Mulay, as Anupam’s wife, is too good. The only weakness in this case is the main protagonist, Amit Sial, who seems to be clueless rather than someone with contained emotions. All in all, the film is just about average.
Hope And A Little Sugar Pre-release Review
After a long gap, Tanuja Chandra is all set to woo the audience once again. Her English film, ‘Hope and a Little Sugar’, is poised for release in the Indian cinemas on 18th April 2008. The movie has already been premiered in the South Asian International Film Festival, held in New York, and has even been named the best feature film of the festival. Hope and a Little Sugar has impressive star cast, including Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhry, Amit Sial, Suhasini Mulay, Vikram Chatwal, Ranjit Chowdhry, Paul Barry, Nicoye Banks, and Shilpa Guha.It has been produced by two New York-based independent film producers, Glenn Russow and Scott Pardo, while the music is given by Wayne Sharpe. The story of the movie has been written by Tanuja Chandra and Glenn Russow. ‘Hope and a Little Sugar’ opens up in the backdrop of the New York City, in the weeks leading to and after 9/11. The main theme of the movie is the romance between an aspiring Muslim photographer and a young Sikh widow and shows how the world changes in a matter of a few days.
Ali Siddiqui (Amit Sial) is a bike messenger (delivery boy for a courier company). He meets Saloni (Mahima Chaudhry), a beautiful girl who also happens to be married. He is also an aspiring photographer and receives encouragement in the area from Saloni, a shop owner he meets while working. She agrees to become his muse too. Soon, Ali develops a good friendship with Saloni as well as her husband, Harry (Vikram Chatwal), while secretly harboring an unreciprocated crush on her.
Everything seems to be going on fine, till 9/11 happens. Harry dies in the tragic incident and his death totally devastates not only Saloni, but also Colonel Oberoi (Anupam Kher), Harry’s father. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ali’s affection for Saloni starts becoming increasingly obvious. Overcome with grief over his son’s death, enraged towards Muslims as a whole and angry over Ali’s love for his widowed daughter-in-law, he makes the latter his target and threatens to bring a sadistic end to his romance.
