Atkan Chatkan Movie Review: Shiv Hare's film misses the beat

When adults, who have left school years ago, are asked to draw on a piece of paper, many would sketch a landscape. They would instantly find themselves drawing up two mountains, a hut and a river. Why? Because landscapes were the basic, the foremost thing that was taught to many of us in our formative days at school.

Similarly, if we are asked to write a plot of a basic Hindi film, by default many of us would think of a poverty-stricken protagonist, an alcoholic father and a miracle that turns the life of our lead character around. The classic rags-to-riches story.

Debutant director-writer Shiv Hare strictly adheres to these basics in Atkan Chatkan, like the hand that mechanically draws the landscape.

The film revolves around the life of a kid named Guddu, played by 13-year-old pianist Lydian Nadhaswaram. Guddu is the sole bread-winner of the house as his abusive father spends all his money in booze.

He knows he is gifted as he hears music in the cacophony on the streets, which most of us would rubbish as noise. He dreams of pursuing a career in music but his hands are tied up due to poverty. But Guddu is determined to show off his talent, if not on a stage then on the streets. He forms a band with a group of street kids and they soon get noticed by the principal of a music school, thus changing their lives forever.

It is Atkan Chatkan's this linear narrative that is a mood-killer. The done-to-death plot is served as new wine in an old bottle without any real imagination. The film has absolutely no twist and turns and the sketchy dialogues make it even more difficult to sit through it all. The film also fails to feel authentic as the irregular accents give away all the seriousness of the subject.

The child artistes, however, make up for these shortcomings of the film. Lydian Nadhaswaram, whom many of us have seen playing piano blind-folded, is a gifted musician and his skill is recognised by the way he makes tunes out of empty utensils or makes a whole new instrument using old wheels, pipes and bottles.

Atkan Chatkan's music is given by Sivamani. And the film's only highlight is when we see Lydian beat the tunes of Sivamani's music, pouring some excitement into the film. Other child actors like Sachin Choudhary and Yash Rane also give notable performances.

Apart from a few performances, nothing really stands out in Atkan Chatkan. We see stories of kids from poor families making it big on reality TV shows almost every day on television. Their stories have a relatable emotional connect, which works, but which can only work so many times. Besides, has anyone wondered what happens to those kids once the reality show is over?

Perhaps that is why Atkan Chatkan fails to make music. From good music to promising actors, the film has everything going for it, but the weak writing makes it miss the beat.

2 out of 5 stars for Atkan Chatkan.

ALSO READ | AR Rahman: A whole gang in Bollywood is spreading false rumours about me