No matter how you look at it, life is tough. But finally beautiful.
While the sequences showing Arjun's growing bonding with the wheelchair-bound Lucky Sir, adequately played by Saqib Saleem, are very cinematic, it's in the boy's relationship with his parents and grandmother and with his four street-smart friends that we witness the full force of Gupte's virtuosity.
Gupte understands the mind of a growing children intuitively and naturally. He sneaks into corridors of the impressionable mind with the unquestionable certainty of someone who knows his way around. That he has Partho as his ally in this endeavour to map the innerscape of an innocent heart is just so providential for the film.
Partho has already shown us his ability to comprehend the dynamics of childhood in "Stanley Ka Dabba". Here he moves with age-defying effortlessness from the 'dabba' to the chai-glass. Partho brings an element of deep tragedy to the boy's life without playing for sympathy. Stripped of cute trappings it's a phenomenal performance.
And he isn't alone. The four boys, who plays Partho's pals, namely Ashfaque Bismillah Khan, Salman Chote Khan, Maaman Memon Aand Thiruptathi Kushnapelli are equally adept at portraying the premature wisdom of street children.
