There is something more powerful about a message or story if its conveyed through the perspective of children. A filmmaker or storyteller can talk about the issues of money, greed and power but the impact is always greater when you can see the effect on innocence.

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“Dekh Indian Circus”, the opening night film at NJISACF by Mangesh Hadawale, is an example of a story that holds more weight because of the mechanism of its delivery.

The story centers around the life of a family in a small Indian village. When the circus comes into town, brother and sister Ghumroo and Panni want nothing more than to go enjoy the festivities. But getting there is easier said than done when their mute father loses a payment he receives from local politicians. With little money in their possession, getting to the circus ends up being a herculean task.

The film is shot in the dry desert areas of Rajasthan and Hadawale does a great job of bringing the audience a taste of what life is like for the impoverished villagers. Each frame we see has a purpose behind it. No stone is left unturned.

And while my description may mislead you into believing the film is a serious social commentary, that couldn’t be further from the truth. At it’s heart, the movie is a whimsical tale of two children trying to see a circus. There are plenty of laughs, songs and dances on the way. The brilliant thing is Hadawale doesn’t lose the message in the lighthearted nature of the film.

And while the cinematography and direction is fantastic, the sincerity of “Dekh Indian Circus” is found in all the performances. After the film was screened at NJISACF, there was a short Q&A with the film’s composer Wayne Sharpe (who’s score is really well done) and he revealed the actors portraying the children never acted before. So kudos to Virendrapratap Rathore and Suhani Oza who portray Ghumroo and Panni respectively. Their portrayals were raw, genuine and heart-warming.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the mute father of the family. His depiction relies heavily on facial expressions and hand movements and he does a great job of conveying the frustration of being a father who cannot adequately provide for his family, despite his best efforts. Siddiqui won a best actor nod at the recent New York Indian Film Festival along with Tannishtha Chatterjee, who took home best actress.

In fact, Chatterjee, who plays the mother, won best actress at the NJISACF as well. She is the spine of the whole film as she perfectly embodies the strength and fragility of a mother who will do everything possible to give her children a better life.

And if you’re looking for some sort of criticism on the movie, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”Dekh Indian Circus” is one of those rare films that do what all cinema should. It makes you laugh, cry, cringe and cheer. What more can you ask for?