Amal

Richie Mehta's Amal is a fable of a film. The narration that kicks off the tale of rickshaw driver Amal sets the tone: we are about to learn a lesson. In this case, it is the age-old truism that money doesn't buy happiness. Amal may be materially poor but he is rich in spirit. While this moralistic bent should be cause for been-there-done-that-cliche-frustration, Mehta's film leaves the viewer anything but frustrated. It works as fable and as entertainment. It is instructive without being preachy. It has a clear story arc heightened by moments of unexpectedness. It is warm and heartening. Lead actor Rupinder Nagra is most responsible for this warmth. His gentle demeanour lends the film a serenity it might not otherwise achieve and creates a genuine protagonist worth rooting for. In an era where anti-heroes reign and irony often trumps sincerity, that's no small feat. The depth of the supporting cast (including Water's stoic Seema Biswas) gives Mehta all the power he needs to make an affecting film about the goodness of being kind.