By: Amit Agarwal
Majid Majidi's Beyond The Clouds, is naturally the most anticipated film at IFFI 2017. As such the edition kick-started with the usual starry opening ceremony, followed by the screening of the opening film, Majid Majidi’s Beyond the Clouds. Interestingly, this is Majidi's first Indian film!
The screening started right after the cast and crew facilitation: director Majid Majidi, the producers, debut cast Ishaan Khattar and Malvika Mohanan, music director A. R Rahman.
Beyond The Cloud tells the story of Aamir (Ishaan Khatter), a young man who lives under a road bridge where numerous impoverished families live, grabbing a bike and carrying out a series of drug deliveries all over the city.
A police bust intercepts Aamir, who is chased into the laundry workplace of Aamir’s sister Taara (Malavika Mohanan). Taara conceals Aamir and his stash of drugs with the help of an older male colleague, Akshi (Goutam Ghose). Akshi’s though wants his help paid in kind and assaults Taara, but Taara defends herself by hitting his head with a rock.
Taara finds herself facing prison, unless Akshi recovers and can be persuaded to admit his role in the incident. But although Akshi regains consciousness, he is unable to talk. Taara and Aamir, both, find hope in their desperate situation through connections with other children. Taara befriends Chotu, the child of an ailing prisoner, while Aamir, though initially considers selling Akshi's eldest daughter to a local brothel, warms to Akshi’s mother and two daughters.
The audience reaction post the screening was mixed, with some hailing the film while others calling it a slow film, with few twists and turns; but one thing sure was unanimous that the masterly stroke of Majidi was deftly written all over the film.