Good Night, Good Morning

This talkie film directed by noted film critic Sudhish Kamath keeps viewers hooked with crisp dialogues laced with humour while sharing grim truths of life

It’s New Year’s Eve in New York City. Turiya, an insurance agent is driving back after a booze party with friends. Moira, a young woman spends the night in a hotel while in transit on her flight home to Mumbai. The two had met briefly earlier this evening when she spurned the invitation of the young men to join for a drink. On the drive back, Turiya picks up his phone and calls her at her room. Initially hesitant about talking to a stranger, she disconnects the line. But on an afterthought, she calls Turiya back. From polite talk it moves onto easy banter, to sharing views on love and God.  Their conversation progresses through the night as the hour hands move ahead and the two strangers drift away geographically. Yet, they seem to find a strange comfort in listening to each other’s voices and unloading their emotional baggage.  Turiya and Moira are at vulnerable phases in life after having gone through failed love affairs.  Moira seems to have emerged stronger, practical and cynical while Turiya is still licking the wounds left behind, unable to let go of his former lover of eight years. It could have been easy for both to find solace in each other’s arms but Sudhish Kamath’s story busting stereotypes takes viewers on a different journey altogether.  

PLUS POINTS: Shot in black and white in split screen, the director deviates from the mundane as he narrates the story in a format that is not much experimented in the Indian film industry. Splashes of colour come and go in flash back and dream moments. There is clean humour that leaves you often chuckling. The strength of the story lies in its dialogues which hold you in rapt attention. There is never a dull moment. Manu Narayan as Turiya and Seema Rahmani as Moira turn in compelling performances. Great care has been taken to give attention to Turiya’s friends in the car, who egg him as he gets chatting with Moira. Ending on an optimistic note, this story drives home few truths of life. 

MINUS POINTS: The flash back moments and dream sequences though funny could have been avoided.

CAMERAWORK: Nischalakrishna Vittalanathan’s camera takes viewers on a road trip from New York to Philadelphia in the wee hours of the morning. Good work.

VERDICT: Watch Good Night, Good Morning for its unusual style of story-telling revolving around a situation seldom encountered in life by two strangers.