VICKY DONOR
CAST: Yami Gautam, Annu Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana
DIRECTOR: Shoojit Sircar
CLASSIFICATION: TBA
RUNNING TIME: 112 minutes
RATING: ***
ALTHOUGH billed as a romantic comedy, Vicky Donor is more than just that.
Realistically, it’s a drama about the charity of life. As a movie with the intention of creating social awareness, it’s effectively written and directed, with engaging fresh performances from the young cast.
Vicky Donor is about a man coming to terms with the fact that he must accept what life gives him and make the most of his bizarre life-changing dilemma.
Dr Balder Chaddha (Anu Kapoor), a New Delhi-based fertility expert, has failed with a number of cases, leaving him with no other option but to source his next potential donor.
After stumbling across his recruit in a neighbourhood scuffle, the handsome Punjabi dude Vicky Arora (Ayushmann Khurrana) becomes Dr Chaddha’s desired donor. They form a successful business alliance, until the anonymous gifts of life come knocking at the front door.
Kapoor and Khurrana share an authentic chemistry, delivering performances that nicely capture the hilarious chaos and the sometimes wrenching emotions that are felt along the way.
Even though not the most genuine way of portraying a social message of this sensitive nature in Indian films, the plot turns feel refreshingly non-formulaic.
Thankfully, there is no slapstick, which is a nice surprise from such a mischievous-looking movie.
The supporting cast manage to avoid stereotypes, with the granny and others getting some solid scenes. The turnaround in the latter part involving the protagonist’s sudden realisation of his bizarre lifestyle becomes an integral part of the growing emotion.
While the film is very enjoyable, it never becomes remarkable. It probably never even aimed to become that. There are plenty of things we can identify with along the way, but mainly for those with relationship and children issues.
You might be surprised at the emotional power the film packs. There’s not much of a plot, but there are a lot of true-to-life scenarios, essaying the sperm donor theme with the required satire that eventually is reduced to an ordinary film about the trials and tribulations of simply being human.
The effort in creating a vitality without boring the audience or ridiculing its theme deserves praise for debutant director Shoojit Sircar and producer John Abraham.
You have to be willing enough to take your Bollywood movie viewing experience to the next level with this film as it deals unashamedly with the sperm donor issues. But once you’re over that, there’s an artsy view of life that you could end up rather enjoying.
– Journalist and media personality Varshan Sookhun is the producer and presenter of Bollywood Billboard and Midday Spice on Lotus FM (87.7-106.8)