Divya
Prajakta Koli oorf MostlySane’s debut short film Khayali Pulao was released today on YouTube and her role in the film couldn’t get any better. The film introduces Prajakta in a new light. It’s safe to say MostlySane has become MostlySerious here and we love it.
Directed by Tarun Dudeja and produced by One Digital Entertainment, Khayali Pulao is the story of a young town girl who lives in a conservative household and town but finds her sense of freedom in the littlest of things.
Watch the film now:
Summary
Asha (Prajakta Koli) is a smart, well mannered young girl who is seen scoring the highest in her class. At that moment comes in the sports coach named Kharab Sir (Yashpal Sharma), with the school’s girls handball team captain who announces that there is an opening for players before their match on Republic Day.
Asha is extremely determined and wants to play at any cost but she is also on the receiving end of hurtful criticism from a teacher, coach and her friends. However, she doesn’t budge.
Unfortunately, even after all the practice, the coach doesn’t let Asha into the handball team which breaks her. Nevertheless, Asha’s journey into the team doesn’t terminate there.
Review
The film showcases a strong-willed and determined girl who is a utopian example for many other girls who want to play sports but face toxic masculinity and societal judgement. Prajakta Koli has done a marvellous job in the portrayal of a powerful lead role albeit a young girl.
The whole stereotype of ‘ladki ye sab nahi kar sakti hai’ has been very subtly showcased in multiple scenes wherein no matter how hard the protagonist tries to succeed, the people around her pull her down. The movie’s setting is that of a town with an orthodox mindset.
Asha’s mother also mentions how she has never heard of the superhero ‘Wonder Woman’ but she only knows ‘Superman’ which again depicts a slight influence of toxic masculinity. Women are made to learn and think that only men are worthy enough to be called heroes. The whole concept of a woman as a hero seems foreign to the young girl’s mother. Asha, however, corrects her mother saying she’d much rather be ‘Wonder Woman’. This particular scene personifies the progress we have made as a country and that the new generation has come a long way. From shying away to wearing jeans to wanting to play an outdoor sport, the movie is an overall comparison of how much women want to progress and are getting there slowly and steadily.
Coach Kharab says, “Chotti si gaon ke, chotti si school main, handball ki team main khelke aisi konsi duniya badal jaayegi iski? Aajkal ke balak bhi na, ajeeb ajeeb khayali pulao pakate hai.“
All this trouble, for just an entry into a sport. Prajakta Koli’s newfound serious avatar has captured the essence of what a determined girl looks like when she really wants something.
The real reason why Asha joins the sport is left for the very end. As much as suspense the beginning creates, it’s all worth the wait!
Hit or Miss?
A huge hit! The movie talks about issues that girls till date actually face. Progress is on-going but it is also slow. To live a dream, you have to be determined. The theme of the film is women empowerment which has been portrayed perfectly.
All Asha wants is to feel a sense of liberation in a world full of terms and conditions put forward by man. A girl with a dream and a rock-solid will power can come a long way.
