Amaltash Movie Review : A breeze of freshness that makes you pause and reflect

Review: Often, it is the films made with passion that leave a lasting impression on the minds of the viewers. Nothing larger-than-life, no grand sets, nothing unbelievable – just a simple story told with sincerity and made relatable by its characters. If Amaltash was to be explained in brief, this would suffice.

Amaltash is a simple, straightforward story of a gifted musician named Rahul (Rahul Deshpande) whose life has changed after an incident in his past. Rahul has learned the importance of soaking in the small pleasures of life and being composed in the most strenuous of situations. Enter Keerti (Pallavi Paranjape), the NRI from Canada who lands in Pune to meet her grandmother (Pratibha Padhye) and has a chance encounter with Rahul who is at her granny’s house to tune their piano. Taken by Rahul’s musical prowess, Keerti meets him again at Rahul’s friend’s music store. They talk and bond over music and soon strike a friendship. Love blossoms organically. But are they meant to spend their life together?

Debutant writer-director Suhas Desale’s film is a slice of life story set in Pune, which too ends up becoming a character in the film. The film has no complications or unnecessary drama. The scenes are such that you may have watched unfolding around you and that makes Amaltash relatable. But it also makes the film monotonous and slow-paced, especially because you know what’s going to unfold. This is where the characters and the film's music step in to keep you from losing interest. Music is the highlight of the film, and its English compositions stand out.

Rahul Deshpande is the star of the film, and he delivers a layered performance. His acting is as much in focus here as his musical talent. Debutant Pallavi Paranjape adds charm and a beautiful vibe to the film with her candour. Her character’s accented Marathi may seem a bit too much at the beginning, but it grows on you gradually. Deepti Mate shines in her small role too. Most characters in the film will remind you of someone you know.

To sum it up, Amaltash is like a breeze of freshness that makes you pause, breathe in, process and move on. Despite its flaws, the film manages to put a smile on your face.