‘Kachche Limbu’ movie review: Radhika Madan, Rajat Barmecha star in a feel-good film about the burden of dreams

A scene from ‘Raw Limbu’

In the high-stakes world of street cricket, a six doesn’t count. Worse, it could lead to immediate dismissal. That’s why the people of Ankur Samaj have put up a banner on which the number ‘6’ is written. Hit a target with a high reach and the score will be allowed. Miss and you’re back on the bench. It’s a neat solution, but do the benefits outweigh the risks?

Sky (Rajat Barmecha) has grown up recognizing sixes. At 26, he still believes in going broke, becoming the face of the upcoming Underarm Cricket League or nothing. His father, who encouraged him in the sport but had recently abandoned the boy, forced him to sit for routine job interviews. When he refused to bow down, his sister Aditi (Radhika Madan), challenges him to an alley tournament. If she beats him, Akash will have to obey his father. This is also Aditi’s test; She grew up in the shadow of her brother. We feel that our whole life has failed to match up with an older sibling; His nickname, affixed to his childhood bat, is… ‘Ditto’.

Aditi puts together a team compared to a ragtag bunch, compared to Hicks, in a funny scene Fine (2001). She names them ‘kachi limbu’ – raw fruit. As said by Radhika Madan in a melancholic way, the name is oddly sad, reflecting the upbeat vibe of most underdog films. raw lemon, we know, it’s not about the excitement of any one game. Rather, it’s a film about the oppressive nature of dreams, and the weight they can place on our souls. Aditi is busy preparing for cricket, Bharatnatyam and medical college. She says she wants to be a fashion designer, but we can’t be sure about that either. Akash is no longer at peace in his sole pursuit of cricketing fame. When one girl is asked what she would change about her childhood, her response is honest and painful. “Not to say I can be whatever I want,” he replies wistfully.

Written and directed by Shubham Yogi, raw lemon to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022; It is now streaming on JioCinema. The film is reminiscent of the small budget ‘colony’ films in which Hindi cinema has lost interest (an exception being the recent Magician on Netflix). The final tournament is modest but engaging, despite cinematographer Piyush Puti’s frantic line-crossings. Rajat Barmecha is agile and commanding as the sharp minded Akash. Madan renews one of his half supris men don’t feel pain, Featuring high-intense emotions and truculent family dynamics, the film focuses on the presence of Aayush Mehra, who joins Aditi.

In the final shot, we see the characters riding a bike on the open roads of Mumbai. It’s an exhilarating break from boxed-in cricket pitches and homes (Aditi sleeps on a pull-out bed with her parents). Like a talented spin bowler, Yogi keeps his film in a twist, then lets loose.

Kacchey Limbu is currently streaming on JioCinema