Zokkomon

Starring: Anupam Kher, Darsheel Safary, Manjari Phadnis, Kunal

Directed by: Satyajit

Heart-warming performances and noble intentions do not make great cinema. This one falls short of expectations, mainly because of the poor special-effects and the failure of the plot to take off. To imagine a film about a flying hero without convincing technique to make the flight of fancy believable, is to imagine a grounded aircraft waiting clearance on a foggy afternoon when nothing in the skyline is visible.

As "Zakkomon", Darsheel just doesn't take wings. He has great charm, no doubt. And his performance is more crafted and honed than it was in "Taare Zameen Par". Sad to say the material meant to support him is frail and feeble. The effort is noteworthy for the conviction that the two principal actors, Safary and Kher, are able to impart to a film that seems hellbent on messing up its own prospects. All said and done "Zokkomon" in unable to rise to the occasion. Touted as a super-hero film with the youngest super-hero in the world, it just doesn't provide the young hero the space to spread his wings. The mask gets muzzled. The cape is clipped in the wings. Darsheel Safary in the title role looks every inch the self-styled Saviour of the world. He takes the part seriously. But doesn't allow it to trip over in self-importance. He gets ample support from Anupam Kher in the two roles as an evil uncle and the scientist. The two actors seem to get the point of doing a film about a 14-year-old flying hero. If only they were better supported by the technical department.

The ineptness of the special effects is surprising considering the film comes from the reputed international producers Walt Disney. One wouldn't like to see "Zokkomon" as a wasted effort. It pushes the envelope a little towards the right direction in providing entertainment for kids. Through Darsheel's endearing screen presence, the plot is able to overcome its inherent deficiencies and connect with young minds. The fantasy element, so essential to propelling the plot ahead, is marred by a discernible lack of funds. But Darsheel in the inspiring company of his Anupam Uncle and his perky co-star Manjari Phadnis seems to be determined to have fun at a party where the arrangements are not quite what the guests expected. Though there has been zero hype around 'Zokkomon', one hoped somewhere in the corner of the heart that the film may end up surprising you and there is something really enticing that plays on screen. Alas, none of that really happens which means 'Zokkomon' turns out to be yet another forgettable instance of a kid's film disappearing into oblivion.

Unfortunately the story too doesn't hold much ground as the film moves ahead on a predictable note. Also, the all important factor - getting touched by the plight of the young boy here - doesn't happen due to which one can't expect an outlet of emotions that would have initially made you teary eyed and later euphoric. To be fair to the genre when it comes to films for kids, there is eventually a standard storyline that one has been seeing since eternity. Whether it is 'Oliver Twist', 'Cinderella' or 'Harry Potter', one can't escape the plotline of 'a poor little kid being tormented and how he/she eventually rises from the ashes. Fair point, as long as the narrative is exciting enough to keep you glued on screen.

In case of 'Zokkomon' though even this basic premise is so half heartedly conveyed through the promos that you find yourself disinterested at the very go itself. The 'evil uncle' angle doesn't make you emotional either as Anupam Kher gets into the 'Chaalbaaz' mode while being even more sinister.

In fact it won't be wrong to say that while in 'Chaalbaaz' Sridevi got into a double role to give it back to Kher, Darsheel has pretty much his own alter ego to contend with (in the form of Zokkomon) to get back at the same actor who has been so effortless and unpretentious despite getting a similar character to enact. Not just that as this time around it is him who is seen in a double role while also enacting the part of a scientist who is actually responsible for the creation of 'Zokkomon'. Of course just like all superheroes, the bare minimum criteria for Zokkomon too is to fly. Well, he does fly and though at times you do want to let the kid out of who scream with excitement, you don't quite manage to do that as kids seated next to you also don't seem really delighted.

Performances too are decent, nothing extraordinary. Just like 'Bumm Bumm Bole', in 'Zokkomon' too Darsheel is decent, not quite fantastic, something that is an expectation from him ever since his smashing debut in 'Taare Zameen Par'. Anupam Kher is good in both the roles. Manjari Fadnis is decent in a role which isn't that of a quintessential leading lady. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is completely forgettable. All said and done, the track record of kid films, whether animated or otherwise, has been so abysmal during all these years that one anyways has set perceptions around 'Zokkomon' as well. The final word? Here goes another kid film which doesn't even half excite you, let aside making you feel that it could have been a better watch. There have been many attempts in the past to woo children by fancy caricaturish characters, enchanting visuals or special VFX works; however mostly every film did bite the dust when it came to the Box-Office collections more so because they all lacked a clever script. In this scenario comes Walt Disney too with a children's film Zokkomon in a bid to give Indian children their first superhero. Now it only remains to see whether this superhero really woos children or not.

Zokkomon is about an orphaned boy Kunal (Darsheel Safary), who has a staggering amount bequeathed on his name by his dead father. In order to claim that money, his evil uncle Deshraj (Anupam Kher), who gets entangled in a legal hassle for having laundered money from government grants issued for the welfare of his village, abandons Kunal in a big city and declares him dead. Meanwhile, Kunal comes across the ebullient artiste Kittu (Manjari Fadnis) who coincidentally lives by the same principles as that of Kunal. They hit it off and become good friends. Kittu urges Kunal to get back and also accompanies him but the two get separated on their way. So while Kunal reaches the village alone he finds the gullible villagers considering him to be a Ghost.

Dejected he enters the so called 'bhoot bangla' of the village and there meets a cynic scientist also played by Anupam Kher. With the help of his 'magic uncle' (as he refers the scientist) Kunal turns into Zokkomon and not only teaches Deshraj a lesson but also changes the mindset of the villagers making them believe more on science and less on supernatural non-existing things. Directed by Satyajit Bhatkal, Zokkomon too fails to impress as a film. Not only does it have a weak plot, it defies logic. So while on one hand the mad scientist boasts of making everything possible with Science, on the other the film takes to the clichéd route of power of hope, prayers etc that the kids in the village take to bring their friend Kunal back to life (which ironically works)!

Moreover, it turns out to be too melodramatic a film for Kids' tastes. The length of the film can be deterrent for it too. Even the songs composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy are disappointing. Darsheel is just average. Manjari Fadnis as Darsheel's friend is average again. Anupam Kher both as Deshraj and as the scientist acts very well. Over all, Zokkomon may not work at the Box-office. The film however may recover money through repeat runs on Disney channel later on. Opinions are like Anupam Kher. Every film has one. This one has two, Anupam Khers that is. One’s a shrewd education Mafiosi in a village, who diverts government funds for labs, library, benches into his personal account. He’s also dumped his li’l nephew to rot in the city. The boy makes an adult friend on the city’s streets, survives the urban wrath, finds his way back home.

The other Anupam Kher is a mysterious sort of figure, soaked in prosthetics, a supposed scientist, whose village lab emits laser lights. He turns the said little boy into a flying ‘Zokkomon’, concocting his voice to sound like Amitabh Bachchan’s from Agneepath. This lead character appears in the second half of the film, which is a bit too late for a super hero flick by his name. Any story, let alone one for kids, I suppose, deserves an emotional connect. Establishing relationships may help. Explanations sure do as well. It’s hard to tell why this wily uncle wants to kills off his nephew, or how the adult friend suddenly besots this little boy. It’s harder still to figure how this Zokkomon technologically came into being. Given this is apparently a movie about merits of science over superstitions.

If it weren’t for the feeble impact, this could seem an Aamir Khan production: the girl’s from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (Manjari Fadnis); the wonder kid (Darsheel Safary) from Taare Zameen Par; the director had helmed a fine documentary on the making of Lagaan. The missing link is the subject they’ve collectively chosen to film. Little boy Zokkomon gets into a freefall, doesn’t break any bones, lies unconscious in bed, fighting for his life. Mass hysteria gets generated over him. Villagers go berserk. Attempting this kind of sudden adulation for a cartoon, animation or super-hero character, without any basis in literature (Chacha Chaudhary / Sabu etc), television series (Spiderman, for my generation) or video game franchise (Pokemon), is sheer wishful thinking. As Shekhar Kapur once famously said, “In future sequels, Sony will have to ensure that when Spiderman takes his mask off, he is either Indian or Chinese. Or they will lose out on 75 per cent of their market.” This is a Disney movie. The future is yet to come. This one's a shaky, false start at best, or nonetheless.