'Cobalt Blue' review: Poetic representation of romance, heartbreak, and society
After quite a delay, National Film Award-winning filmmaker Sachin Kundalkar's directorial Cobalt Blue finally premiered on Netflix on Saturday. Based on Kundalkar's best-selling novel of the same name, it stars Prateik Babbar, Neelay Mehendale, and Anjali Sivaraman in the lead. The 112-minute-long film set in 1996's Kerala is a visual delight that tells us a poignant and tragically beautiful tale. Here's a detailed review.
Two siblings fall for the same man, their paying guest
The story is narrated through Tanay (Mehendale)—one of three siblings in a Marathi family living in Fort Kochi, Kerala. An aspiring writer, Tanay spends time living in his head, while his sister Anuja (Sivaraman) is a hockey player trying hard to defy societal norms for women. They seem to be close-knit but find themselves in a conundrum when both fall for their paying guest.
Mehendale is a darling as he transforms through narrative
Babbar—essaying the role of the enigmatic paying guest who doesn't get a name throughout the movie—portrays the character excellently. With his big eyes and child-like naivete, Mehendale is a darling as he leads the narrative and grows up to be an embittered man. Sivaraman's zeal and intent also get translated onscreen. Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shishir Sharma, and Anant Joshi deliver adequate performances in limited roles.
Direction and cinematography true winners here
While the actors are good, they are not meant to stand out. Kundalkar's direction, Vincenzo Condorelli's cinematography, and visual artists are the true stars here. Kerala's beautiful landscapes are presented with care while playing with the color "cobalt blue" in nearly every frame. Ever heard of "art inspires art"? After watching this movie, you'll definitely be inspired to create or emotionally invest in something.
Investing time in this fills your heart with multiple emotions
In Cobalt Blue, poetry has been used to comment on the plight of anyone not subscribing to normative sexual expressions. It shows how staying in the closet can be suffocating, lonely, and open you up to being easily manipulated. With subtle care, Kundalkar also deals with issues of domestic abuse and lack of agency among women. Verdict: The poignant watch gets 4/5 stars.
