18/06/2022
Movies takes you out from the reality you are living! and that’s true. We all demand that magic realism from the movies we see. Now for me comedies are the best way to create that realism. From the classics slapstick comedies like “Ace Ventura”, “Dumb and Dumber”, “Home Alone”, all the Chaplin movies, to the new age dark comedies like most of the Coen Brothers films (like “The Big Lebowski”, “Fargo”, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”, “A Serious Man” etc.), we all enjoy the realism and the world built in it! comedy, according me, is the easiest way to enter the world created by the filmmaker.
Recently from the world cinema perspective, we are lacking in the genre of comedies, and the Assamese film industry is no different! We are waiting for a good entertaining ride. And at last we get!
Yeah! I am talking about recently released film “Local Utpaat”, Kenny Basumatary back with his forte. We can sum up the film in one line as local kungfu with the less kungfu in it. but it is not a negative point for this movie. The over the top slapstick comedy pieces works and gives us a good laugh. Kenny Basumatary achieved what he was intending. Local Utpaat was a laugh ride and surely it something we are waiting for too long.
Let’s discuss some of the aspects of the film quickly -
Story, screenplay and direction:
The film was written and directed by Kenny Basumatary. His wacky dialogues and scenes always creates a great laugh. The storyline takes absurd turns but it still manages to gives us a joyful experience.
If I have to tell about the story of Local Utpaat then I would say, it is a story about a boy Amit, his girlfriend Maya and their friends, going on a bizarre journey of hurdles. Kenny tried to create a sweet urban story of a couple, with a lot of colourful side characters.
Shortly if I have to say the story, then it is a story about a jobless boy named Amit and his independent girlfriend Maya and their love, but they faced many bumps throughout the film and how Amit and his brother along with his friends faced them and overcome them basically forms the story. Kenny Basumatary like his previous films, added an important social issue in his wacky world. He writes the character of Amit like a naïve and simple character. With this characterization writer Kenny tried to create some emotional moments, which are for me feels like hit and miss! I think the only issue I have with the screenplay is the lack of good emotional moments.
Apart from that the film was full of crazy comedy set pieces that will tear your belly surely! It was a fully Kenny Basumatary film and he again proves his expertise in the field of comedy. He uses some brilliant ideas in the screenplay and it really shows his strong vision towards the film. This film really makes us excited about the Local Kungfu 3!
Cast and their acting:
The cast is full of old and new actors in Kenny crew! Bonny Deori, Tony Deori, Montu deori, Bibhash Singha and Kenny himself all returns in this film. And some of the new faces appears as well. Bibhuti Bhushan Hazarika as deuta and Poonam Gurung as Maya, impressed us with their performances. Apart from them there were a lot of other actors in the film and I have to say they the cast for this film is done as per requirement of the characters. It feels like the actors are playing themselves in the screen. And which is really a great positive for the film.
I have to say in the climax there was a side goon in the film and oh my god that reference! I have to salute Kenny for that character and his casting!
Cinematography, Editing and other technical aspects:
Cinematography done by Suruj Deka is basically depends on full shorts and medium close-ups. He takes simple camera moments and it was completely fits for the film. Some of his frames really impressed us. And at the climax his ability of capturing a fun slapstick fight really shines beautifully. Editing done by Kenny himself, makes the film completely a director’s film. His vision about the story and the scenes beautifully come along in his editing. Some of his transitions were also creates laugh in the audience.
Sound designer Jyoti Chetia also done a fabulous job. The comic sound design fits really well in the film. He perfectly balanced the background sound by not doing over or under, just the right amount it needs. But I can say that the dubbing could be better in the film. In some shorts the syncing went really wrong. But overall the sound department does great job. Similarly, the music department. The film hasn’t many music pieces but didn’t bother your experience. It had that right amount of songs it needed. The one love song really creates the base for the lead couple.
My analysis:
Hmm I think you are gonna leave the review right now!, who wants to hear my analysis ofcourse! But in a serious note I liked the film. Is it capable to make you laugh? Absolutely. Is it full of cheap comedy? Hell no. Is it a good film? Umm yess. Is it the best film ever? Umm no.
I think you get my point. The film has its flaws. Like lack of emotional depth. It creates a flat climax for the audiences. Otherwise a good climax becomes a regular one. But apart from that it gives us a good fun ride. We laugh at every joke and every set piece. I think it was the Kenny show and his vision, that makes this film so good and so special. We can say that is Kenny at his best!
In the end!
In the end I will conclude it with a congratulation wish to the whole team, you guys are really a new hope for assamese film industry. The stagnant film industry gets a really hard push because of you guys. We want to see more “Locals” in theatre. And on that note I will give Local Utpaat 4 out of 5 bananas! Watch the film to understand the line!!
