Today, at a small venue, a local jam-pad to be precise, I experienced an interplay of sound and visuals bound together in a narrative that felt unreal, as much as it was true.
Placebo, is a 96 minute long documentary soon to hit your screens on Netflix Worldwide. And I happen to be a proud 'early-bird' viewer to share the filmmaker's ordeal-like, yet patiently fruitful venture of 4 years as an audience member.
Without a single moment of bullshitting, Abhay Kumar gets right into it. After his brother severely damages his right hand in an accident on a college fest night, Abhay decides to stay back at AIIMS, India's premiere institute of medical sciences. What follows is a real tell-tale that reasons with some of the most profound emotions a human can experience. The drivers of this are his 'real-life people' that are more well- rounded than film characters.
The film teases and explores a wide range of themes, yet what stuck with me the most was an artist's dilemma, that comes with a sacrificial decision most people will relate to after watching the film. Its carefully put together narrative grips you tight with its locked jaw, and by the time you finish watching, the real-life drama wouldn't hold any less than its fictional counterparts.
It's brave and in-your-face. It has moments that are an absolute treat to watch, while others are horrific, being emotionally provoking at the same time. It's a film that definitely exploits the true form of documentary filmmaking. And I'm proud it came from someone from my hometown.
Can't wait for more from the Director and his crew. Till then, I'll let this one grow on me further. After all, it's a bittersweet pleasure to have been one of the hand-picked people at that private screening today, from where people dispersed like at a funeral.