MARGARITA WITH A STRAW (A): A heartwarming ‘cheers’ to ‘life’! [4/5]

Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that could damage and affect the ability to move, balance and to walk in a normal posture. Difficulties with speaking or swallowing are also visible symptoms but that doesn’t play down the level of intelligence in brain or the degree of passion in heart. So next time, if you have luck to meet someone having Cerebral Palsy, greet him/her normally. Try not to be abnormal!

Well, that was an FYI. Otherwise; why to discuss, give importance or rather even care to mention something like CP, if you already have plenty reasons to celebrate a better syndrome called ‘Life’. MARGARITA WITH A STRAW is a passionate, moving and inspirational drama that is hardly any normal, regular or ordinary.

Maharashtrian mother [the ever-gifted Revathy] married to Punjabi father is driving a matador van with a sliding platform for her wheelchair-ridden daughter Laila (the exceptionally good Kalki Koechlin). And the daughter doesn’t blink her eyes while showing her middle finger to a traditional Indian saree clad socialite for being shamelessly and insensitively sympathetic to her disabilities. Laila is a rare breed. She is ready to fall for all the cute faces around and boldly explores every bit of her maturing sexuality, first with the emotionless sex-toys to a friend-for-all seasons [Hussain Dalal], Nima- the cute-faced lead singer of her college-band, the supportive batchmate in the university of New York and later, with Khanum [Sayani Gupta]- a rebellious visually impaired lesbian born to mixed parents from Pakistan & Bangladesh.

Shonali Bose’s MARGARITA WITH A STRAW is a delightfully delicious slice-of-life film that doesn’t accept to exploit the empathy ‘normal’ people build up for these differently-abled souls; not for once. And kudos to Bose and her co-writer/director Nilesh Maniyar for keeping that unflinching honesty and unadulterated emotions intact in the script! The highlights in the film are the reflective moments between Laila and her mother especially when the latter realizes about her daughter’s sexual preferences. Meanwhile, Bose gifts us one of the most beautiful characters in Laila who could inject varied emotions in you effortlessly, without making a fuss over it. She smiles, you smile! She cries, you don’t because you know she’ll bounce back the very next minute. Kalki Koechlin is not just there to fill in the blanks. She gives more than what required and transits her soul in Laila. It’s one of the toughest roles ever came to Indian actors, physically and emotionally too, and Kalki makes it look like an expert’s job. Neat, clean and sparkling!

Revathy, too doesn’t fail. Her ever-understanding, encouraging and extremely caring mother is a perfect pitch. Watch out for her immaculate performance in front of the mirror in her bedroom where she sheds it all after the day is over [I don’t put spoilers]! Be ready as the heart breaks and bleeds. Sayani Gupta as Khanum adds sparks, sensuousness and susceptibility. The background score is soft and uplifting so is the cinematography. Nice, cool and glittery!

Overall, Shonali Bose’s MARGARITA WITH A STRAW celebrates life, and the overwhelming spirit that never gets affected by anything bad or worse. It also handles some of the issues our society needs to open its eyes and minds to; in a very delectably endearing mood. Order a margarita; for a change, with a straw to taste it for a longer and lasting experience! Say ‘cheers’ to life!! [4/5]