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Goldfish Review: Kalki Koechlin & Deepti Naval tell a delicate, timeless story of a unique mother-daughter bond

Rashita Sahni

September 1, 2023
12:37 am
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In Goldfish, Kalki Koechlin & Deepti Naval perfectly capture the essence of every mother-daughter relationship

Film:
Goldfish

Bubble Rating:

Duration: 1 hour 43 minutes

Director: Pushan Kripalani

Starcast: Kalki Koechlin, Deepti Naval, Rajit Kapur, Bharti Patel, Gordon Warnecke, Ravin Ganatra and Shanaya Rafaat

Platform: Theatres

Goldfish Review

Films based on family bonds have a special place in the world of cinema. Director Pushan Kripalani’s Goldfish is the latest addition to it. The Indian-British-American production brings together powerhouse talents Deepti Naval, Kalki Koechlin and Rajit Kapur with some extraordinary actors from the United Kingdom – Bharti Patel, Gordon Warnecke, Ravin Ganatra and Shanaya Rafaat – to tell a delicate, timeless story of a mother and a daughter, and of community. The movie marks the return of Kalki to the theaters after 4 years and is based on human emotions and family bonds.

Watch the trailer while reading Goldfish Review:

Storyline

The 1 hour 43 minutes long film begins with Anamika aka Miku (Kalki Koechlin) visiting her mother Sadhana Tripathi (Deepti Naval) – a veteran Indian classical singer who is suffering from the onset of dementia. Sadhana, who lives alone in her UK home, is used to the loneliness and taking care of herself so Miku’s sudden visit is certainly not the best mood-lifter for her. Miku, on the other hand, is also suffering from the different hurdles of modern day life.

The mother-daughter duo share a very unique relationship – it’s scarred and is mostly based on past traumas. Miku, who was once extremely close to her father, is still dealing with the sadness of his untimely death while Sadhana is trying to understand her life with dementia. How the mother-daughter duo bond over their miseries and stand by each other through thick and thin is what makes Goldfish a special watch. Their ‘chai at 4?‘ is as special.

The heartfelt story and the myriad of emotions are woven together sensitively. The audiences can expect a soul-stirring story with refreshing performances. The artistic approach that Goldfish offers is magnetic and makes you feel each and every emotion flawlessly.

Performances

Kalki yet again proves her craft with an effortless performance. She plays Miku with pure honestly. Deepti Naval is the one to look out for in this one. She carries the film on her shoulders with much charm and her unexpected one-liners are filled with quirk and humor. Kalki and Deepti’s camaraderie and soul-stirring performances stand out in the film.

Rajit Kapur and the wide ensemble cast including Bharti Patel, Gordon Warnecke, Ravin Ganatra and Shanaya Rafaat add to the appeal of the movie. The raw intensity that these performances bring to the screen is completely captivating.

Technical Aspect

Director Pushan Kripalani tells a heartening story that portrays a sensitive tale with utmost brilliance and honesty. The filmmaker has done his absolute best to make a movie so real to life, so relatable and yet so beautiful. You do not feel like missing a beat while watching it. Full credit to writers Pushan & Arghya Lahiri for making us feel each and every emotion so organically. Tapas Relia’s music is the soul of the movie. It adds that additional layer to the film and makes it a complete package. Pradip patil’s editing is on-point.

What’s great about the Pushan Kripalani-directed Goldfish

The Mother-Daughter Relationship: The movie gives us a glimpse of the bond shared between Deepti Naval and Kalki Koechlin. With anger, frustration, sadness, joy, and everything in between, it perfectly captures the essence of every mother-daughter relationship. The love-hate bond that they share encapsulates the depth of their emotions. Not only will it leave you teary-eyes but also make you miss your own mother!

Music: The short yet impactful glimpse of the Hindustani classical music that we receive through the movie is soulful. The serene, yet thoughtful tune pulls you into the world of the movie and makes you feel the emotions that are reflected through the characters on screen.

Artistic Approach: From the European setting in London to the artistic aesthetic of the film, Goldfish doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to engulfing the audiences deeper into the world it creates.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a captivating watch with powerful performances, then Goldfish is the perfect movie for you. The performances are near-perfect and the storyline is heartwarming. The film shows the constant conflict of practicality vs emotions and old vs new in the most realistic manner.