Kaamyaab
Following the tradition of featuring critically-acclaimed films that hardly got the attention they deserved when they were released, today’s Lost and Found is Kaamyaab. This Hardik Mehta directorial released in March 2020 but barely managed a few weeks in theaters on account of the pandemic and was only discovered by some when it dropped on Netflix. Kaamyaab delves into the mundane life of a retired character actor Sudheer, played by Sanjay Mishra, who decides to return for a second innings when he learns that his filmography is one short of 500. Through Sudheer, we’re introduced and sensitized to the significant yet often ignored role that character actors are confined to. Often blending into the narrative like a backdrop, their presence, while pertinent, is largely peripheral to the proceedings. So even though they’re firmly embedded in films, they’re denied the stardom or heft assigned to film stars and must grapple with a life of anonymity despite featuring in hundreds of onscreen turns. From those doctors who appear on-screen only to state that the patient is beyond dava and at the mercy of dua to those henchmen who go flying across the screen once punched by the hero, character actors and junior artists are omnipresent in Indian films. Mehta’s film makes for a bittersweet watch and one is able to closely follow the protagonist’s state of mind and how he deals with his existential crisis. The film also stars Deepak Dobriyal, who plays a renowned casting agent, and features cameos by actual veteran character actors from Hindi films and TV shows such as Avtar Gill, Lilliput and Viju Khote. If you haven't watched this flick yet then do so on Netflix, Youtube, Google Play and iTunes.Well, that's the OTTplay Lost and Found film for today, I shall be back soon with another lesser-known film but critically acclaimed. This is your host Nikhil Signing off for now.
